Mosquitoes capable of carrying West Nile virus will be under attack Wednesday night in Allentown.

A truck mounted spray application operation will occur in the city between 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. It will focus on Trexler Park, Sumner Avenue, the First Ward from Front Street to American Parkway, Tilghman to Linden, Basin Street, Mountainville Shopping Center, Auburn Street, Lehigh Street to Mill Street, Fairview Cemetery, Union and West End Cemetery ending at the Allentown Fairgrounds.

A lead vehicle with a flashing light guides the spray truck.

People are advised to stay back 100-feet from the spray truck.

Infected mosquitoes transmit the West Nile virus. These mosquitoes usually bite and infect wild birds -- the primary host of the virus -- but can also infect horses and other mammals, in addition to humans.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection works with representatives from all 67 counties on a comprehensive mosquito surveillance and control network.  The Lehigh Conservation District manages the program. 

The spraying program was prompted by data collected in the past two weeks regarding West Nile virus positive mosquito samples.

In the event of rain, the project will be postponed until Thursday, August 5.

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