The Department of Environmental Protection West Nile Virus website reported Friday positive sampling results in 4 new counties, including-- Armstrong, Butler, Crawford and Venango.  This brings the total to 56 out of 67 counties.

DEP previously reported West Nile Virus was found in these counties-- Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Cambria, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Union, Washington, Westmoreland, Wyoming and York.

Prevention

Individuals can take a number of precautionary measures around their homes to help eliminate mosquito-breeding areas, including:

-- Dispose of cans, buckets, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or similar containers that hold water.

-- Properly dispose of discarded tires that can collect water. Stagnant water is where most mosquitoes breed.

-- Drill holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers.

-- Have clogged roof gutters cleaned every year as the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug drains.

-- Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use.

-- Turn over wheelbarrows and don't let water stagnate in birdbaths.

-- Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish.

-- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools not in use and remove any water that may collect on pool covers.

If a resident has stagnant pools of water on their property, they can buy Bti (short for Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis) products at lawn and garden, outdoor supply, home improvement and other stores. This naturally occurring bacterium kills mosquito larvae, but is safe for people, pets, aquatic life and plants.

Additionally, these simple precautions can prevent mosquito bites, particularly for people who are most at risk:

-- Make sure screens fit tightly over doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out of homes.

-- Consider wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks when outdoors, particularly when mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, or in areas known for having large numbers of mosquitoes.

-- When possible, reduce outdoor exposure at dawn and dusk during peak mosquito periods, usually April through October.

-- Use insect repellents according to the manufacturer's instructions. An effective repellent will contain DEET, picardin, or lemon eucalyptus oil. Consult with a pediatrician or family physician for questions about the use of repellent on children, as repellent is not recommended for children under the age of two months.

Control Operations

DEP and county partners throughout the state will also conduct routine, localized spraying events to control infected adult populations of mosquitoes. These operations are conducted when and where deemed necessary based on recent population survey results.

Click Here for a schedule of mosquito adulticiding events.

For more information about West Nile Virus and the state's surveillance and control program, visit the West Nile Virus website.

NewsClips:

DEP: Conditions Ripe For Spread Of West Nile Virus

Venesky: Conditions Ripe For Mosquito West Nile Virus

West Nile Numbers Jumping

West Nile Hot Spots In PA, What’s The Risk In Your County?

Cumberland County Conducts Mosquito Spraying Operations

Mosquito Spray To Be Applied Monday In Ligonier

Mosquito Spraying In Luzerne County Set For Aug. 7

Allegheny County Health To Treat For Mosquitoes

Allegheny County Plans Mosquito Spraying To Prevent West Nile Virus

York County Leads State In Positive West Nile Virus Mosquito Samples

Lyme Disease Now In All States, But PA Has Most Cases

Penn State: Don’t Avoid The Outdoors, Avoid Tick Bites

Pennsylvania Reports First Longhorned Tick

Just Over Half Of Ticks Studied In Pike County Carried Disease

Study: 1 In 7 Children Of Zika Virus-Infected Moms Have Problems

[Posted: August 10, 2018]

8/13/2018