Local counties on alert as state sees highest number of West Nile cases in mosquitoes
West Nile Virus is making its way across the state. (Metro Creative Graphics)
A map highlights in red the Pennsylvania counties the West Nile Virus has been found. (Pennsylvania’s West Nile Virus Control Program)
West Nile Virus is making its way across the state, and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) says the worst part of this year’s season is just getting started.
“Receding floodwaters and heavy rains across Pennsylvania are creating a perfect storm of conditions,” said Lauren Fraley, community relations coordinator with the DEP. “These conditions have contributed to the highest level of West Nile Virus activity in the mosquito population since the disease was first introduced.”
Pennsylvania’s West Nile Virus Control Program reports that 55 of the 67 counties in the state have had mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile Virus. The Pennsylvania West Nile Virus Control Program, a comprehensive network developed in the state to combat the spread of the disease, reports that a man in Allegheny County has tested positive for the disease and is known as the only human case so far this year.
Locally, Fayette, Greene, Westmoreland and Washington counties were all classified as “high risk” for potential for the disease for the time between July 18 and Aug. 8.
According to a report from the Department of Health dated July 23, routine seasonal monitoring conducted by the DEP, the West Nile virus surveillance program has detected 1,109 West Nile virus-infected mosquito samples and two West Nile Virus-infected birds this summer.
“West Nile Virus-positive mosquito pool counts are higher at this point in the season,” the report stated. “Risk of human West Nile Virus infection is likely to remain elevated over the next several months.”
Fraley said the DEP’s West Nile Program conducts spraying based on the data it collects on mosquito populations and the number of mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile Virus.
She added that it is also dependent on local conditions including weather.
On the Pennsylvania’s West Nile Virus Control Program website, there are two DEP sprayings scheduled in Masontown and German Township in Fayette County and two sprayings were completed this season in Mount Pleasant Township and Mount Pleasant Borough in Westmoreland County.
Ken Hess, the mosquito borne disease field coordinator with Penn State Cooperative Extension for Fayette County, said he has been collecting samples at 10 different places each week in both Fayette and Greene counties.
“I set traps at different sites each week and then I ship them off to the DEP labs in Harrisburg where they test them,” Hess said. From there he takes the findings into consideration of where he puts out the traps the following week.
“We had about 23 mosquitoes test positive for West Nile so far this season,” he said, adding that he’ll treat habitats for larvae, and if it’s bad enough they will adulticide.
“If we continue to get positive results after that, we’ll do the spray,” Hess said.
So far this season, Hess said the sites where they have gotten positive West Nile Virus results have not gotten positive results week after week.
Lisa Snider, district manager of the Greene County Conservation District, said because high numbers of positive samples are being collected throughout the state, her office is being proactive.
“We are analyzing the numbers we receive from the entire state to decide if and when we need to conduct larger spraying events,” she said.
Over the past few weeks, two employees from the Conservation District office have collected mosquitoes in 10 fixed sites throughout the county.
In addition to finding large numbers of mosquitoes in those traps that are monitored and collected weekly, the results have indicated that nine samples of mosquitoes in three specific areas — Mount Morris, Carmichaels and Waynesburg Borough — tested positive for the disease. No human, horse or bird positives were reported.
The employees have begun treating those specific areas and will continue to do so over the remainder of the summer season, which typically ends after the first hard frost.
In the meantime, Snider and Hess both stressed that the best defense against the West Nile Virus is not giving mosquitoes a place to breed.
“The best thing to do is get rid of any standing, stagnant water around your property,” Snider said. “And if you’re planning on being outside for any length time, then use proper repellent and make sure to cover up with clothing, especially infants and younger children as well as older residents, as they are more likely to show symptoms.”
Hess added that if residents in populated areas reduce standing water habitats, that’s half the battle.
Despite all of the cautionary messages from DEP and other organizations, Snider added that the positive samples found is not cause for panic, as less than one percent of all mosquitoes carry West Nile Virus and 80 percent of people have no symptoms if infected.
“We’re not saying there’s any major concern, we just want residents to be aware and to protect themselves,” she said.
According to the state’s West Nile Virus Control Program website, www.westnile.state.pa.us, there are other tasks that can be done for protection against mosquitoes and WNV:
n Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that have collected on your property.
n Pay special attention to discarded tires, as stagnant water in tires are where most mosquitoes breed.
n Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers left outdoors.
n Have clogged roof gutters cleaned every year, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug up the drains. Roof gutters can produce millions of mosquitoes each season.
n Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use. Stagnant water in a wading pool becomes a place for mosquitoes to breed.
n Turn over wheelbarrows and don’t let water stagnate in birdbaths. Both provide breeding habitats for domestic mosquitoes.
n Wear shoes, socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time, or when mosquitoes are most active.
n Consider the use of mosquito repellent, according to directions, when it is necessary to be outdoors. Wash all treated skin and clothing when returning indoors.