Mosquito Spraying to Occur in Ross County
Chillicothe, OH – Ross County Health District (RCHD) is notifying residents in the areas listed below that mosquito spraying is scheduled for September 8, 2026, after 8:00 p.m. due to mosquito collection traps testing positive for West Nile virus (WNV). If spraying is postponed due to rain or high winds, it will be rescheduled for the evening of September 10, 2026. It is not uncommon for mosquitoes to test positive for WNV.
Areas within the following townships will receive adulticide spray:
Union and Green Townships
Area within the City of Chillicothe that will receive adulticide spray:
Part of Ward 3
The Health District will apply Duet, an adulticide mosquito control product. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has evaluated Duet and approved it for ground and aerial application in outdoor residential and recreational areas. When used according to label directions, this treatment is not expected to harm people, pets, animals, or the environment. For more information about Duet, visit https://www.clarke.com/product/duet-adulticide/.
RCHD recommends avoiding mosquitoes and mosquito bites by doing the following:
- Use insect repellent when you go outdoors.
- Apply repellents on exposed skin that are registered with the U.S. EPA which are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- Wear light-colored clothing and wear clothing treated with permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent for extra protection.
- Remove standing water where mosquitoes breed. Check flowerpots, bird baths, tarps, gutters, and other areas where water can collect.
- All residents are encouraged to protect themselves from mosquito bites. The most effective prevention is to remove standing water where mosquitoes breed. Check flowerpots, bird baths, tarps, gutters, and other areas where water can collect.
- Avoid outdoor activity from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
Mosquito larvicide tablets are available at the Ross County Health District on a first-come, first-served basis for use in standing water that cannot be emptied.
Most people infected with West Nile virus do not develop symptoms. About one in five people may develop symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, nausea, or rash. In rare cases, West Nile virus can cause severe illness, including serious or sometimes fatal complications. People over age 60 and individuals with certain chronic health conditions are at higher risk for severe illness. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat West Nile virus in people.
The Health District has checked FieldCheck/BeeCheck and have been in contact with anyone with registered beehives in the scheduled spray area. Bees and other pollinators are not likely to be affected because they are generally not active during evening hours.
Residents who wish to opt out of adulticide spraying in front of their homes should contact the Ross County Health District at 740-775-1158 or email eh@rosscountyhealth.org by noon on the scheduled day of spraying.
More information: