As the county recovers from August’s devastating flood, health officials are taking action intended to prevent widespread illness: Wayne County Health Department deployed mosquito spray last week in areas most impacted by flood waters.
WCHD’s Aug. 21 social media announcement was met with public outcry as many worried that the insecticide would do more harm than good. Comments mentioned potential threats to natural pollinators, domestic animals and livestock, the environment, and overall public health.
The fogging was conducted on Aug. 23-26, between 6 and 9 p.m. to mitigate exposure of the substance, Biomist 4-12 ULV, that’s designed to target the adult mosquitoes while minimizing effects on beneficial insects.
WCHD Director Dan Burk said they recognize the valid concerns and while no application can fully guarantee zero impact, they take every step to safeguard local pollinators. This includes exclusively operating from dusk to dawn when pollinators are mostly inactive during peak mosquito activity.
“When applied correctly for public health mosquito control, Biomist 4-12 presents minimal risk to humans, livestock, and domestic pets,” said Burk. “If people follow our instructions, this is a safe practice and has been used for years in public health. We are not fogging the entire county, only the most impacted flooded areas, with dense populations like cities and towns. We are not venturing out into the country doing farmland.”
In an email to WWN, Burk explained the fogging is to reduce the adult mosquito population caused by flooding and prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, such as West Nile virus. Since Wayne County does not conduct annual or routine sprays, Burk said they reserve this operation for natural disasters or public emergencies.
According to the CDC, the number of mosquitoes that could spread viruses can increase weeks after in areas that receive increased rainfall. Their presence can also make recovery efforts outdoors more difficult.
In the days following the operations, residents are advised to use EPA-registered insect repellents, wear protective long-sleeved apparel outdoors and regularly eliminate standing water on private property to prevent mosquito breeding.
For official inquiries, contact the Wayne County Health Department at 765-973-9245 (Option 3) or via email at health@waynecounty.in.gov.
A version of this article appeared in the September 2 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
