City of Franklin urges caution after West Nile is detected

FRANKLIN — City officials are encouraging residents to take precautions after the city’s mosquito control contractor reported that two mosquito surveillance sample locations tested positive for West Nile virus.
The positive mosquito samples do not mean any human cases have been identified in Franklin. However, the findings indicate the virus is present in the local mosquito population, prompting officials to remind residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites and reduce mosquito breeding areas around their homes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, residents can help lower their risk by:
-Using insect repellent when spending time outdoors
-Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, especially during the early morning and evening hours when mosquitoes are most active
-Limiting outdoor activities at dawn and dusk whenever possible
-Removing standing water from around their property, including buckets, flowerpots, birdbaths, tires, clogged gutters and other containers where mosquitoes can breed.
-Making sure window and door screens are in good condition to keep mosquitoes from entering homes.
City officials encourage residents to remain vigilant throughout mosquito season and to take these simple preventive measures to help protect themselves, their families and their neighbors.
For more information about West Nile virus, its symptoms and prevention, visit the CDC’s West Nile Virus webpage.