At Councilwoman Vicki Almond's request, the October 1 mosquito spraying set for Pikesville will be delayed until after the Jewish holiday Sukkot.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture said it will not be harmful to wait, according to Steve Heinl, Almond's legislative aide.
Spraying against mosquitoes that potentially carry the West Nile virus happened Monday, but will not happen on Oct. 1.
See the map of the areas to be sprayed.
The later date could be rescheduled some time after Sukkot unless colder weather kills off mosquitoes first.
Sukkot, which last seven days, begins at sundown September 30 and ends at sundown October 7, according to Chabad.org.
Almond asked for the change because some leaders in the Jewish community requested it, Heinl said.
The Department of Agriculture plans to spray BioMist 30-30 from trucks in parts of Pikesville north of Slade and north of I-695 to help control mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus.
Cases of the disease were confirmed in humans in Baltimore County, including in areas of Pikesville and Catonsville.
Almond announced the spray date change Monday on her Facebook page.
Celebration of Sukkot, the harvest festival, includes building temporary, hut-like structures, called sukkahs, outside of homes and restaurants.
Meals are eaten there to remember when Jews wandered the desert, according to Judaism 101 online.
