Oct 30, 2002 By Steve Ferris 3 min read

Cold fall weather has sent mosquitoes into hibernation, but ongoing tests on dead birds and mosquitoes submitted during the summer from across Fayette County revealed 28 had the West Nile virus and many more have not yet been tested. The county is preparing for the mosquitoes’ re-emergence in the spring by preparing an application for a grant of at least $85,960 for the West Nile program, which will likely include the use of pesticides.

“What increases your spending is when you have to hire a contractor to come in and spray pesticide,” said Arthur Cappella, the county’s chief community development specialist and West Nile program coordinator.

He said he allotted $35,000 for mosquito control in a preliminary application, but the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) might recommend applying for more money before the applications are due in November. The DEP administers the grants.

Due to the rapid spread of the virus across the country since it was discovered in New York in 1999, Cappella said he expects more birds and mosquitoes will test positive for the virus next year than this year.

According to the DEP and the state health department’s West Nile virus Web site, 27 of the 61 collected birds and just one the 235 samples of trapped mosquitoes had the virus. Tests are pending on 12 birds and 141 mosquito samples.

The site lists two infected birds found in Rostraver Township in the figures for Fayette County, but the township is in Westmoreland County.

The most recent tests conducted Tuesday showed the disease was present in birds found in Uniontown, Redstone Township and North Union Township.

Since Aug. 16, there have been five confirmed cases in North Union Township, four each in Uniontown, Connellsville and South Union Township, three in Washington Township, two in Menallen Township and one each in South Connellsville, Saltlick Township, Bullskin Township and Smithfield.

No people in the county contracted the virus, but there have been 59 confirmed human cases with eight fatalities across the state. Four of the fatalities and a total of 20 human infections occurred in Allegheny County. One human case was also confirmed in Westmoreland County.

The virus can cause encephalitis. People 50 and older and those with weakened immune systems are at the greatest risk, but anybody can contract the disease.

Cappella said a person who recovers from the virus becomes immune to it.

Only female mosquitoes bite and one of the two types of traps used to collect samples is designed specifically to capture females.

Gravid traps are placed on the ground and with a container of a liquid formula designed to attract egg-laying females. When they fly near the liquid, a fan pulls them into the trap. The run on batteries and are activated only at night by a light sensor, Cappella said.

Light traps attract both sexes with the carbon dioxide gas from dry ice and fan to suck them into the trap.

The county has six gravid traps, which cost $159 each, and 20 of the $77.80 light traps, but some “wore out” this year and will have to replaced before the spring, he said.