The Chester County Health Department has announced that mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile Virus in four municipalities, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) said today.
The positive samples were identified in West Goshen Township, Easttown Township, Tredyffrin Township, and Uwchlan Township. The Chester County Health Department (CCHD) will continue to monitor those areas and surrounding municipalities and will consider control activities when appropriate.
“It’s important to be informed about the presence of West Nile Virus in our region,” said Senator Pileggi. “We can all take some simple, effective measures to help reduce the possibility of infection.”
There was confirmed human case of West Nile Virus in 2012, the first since 2008. Although the chance of being infected is small, CCHD recommends staying indoors at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active, wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants when outside, and using insect repellents when mosquitoes are active. Other precautions include:
• Disposing of open containers that may collect water, such as tin cans and plastic bottles.
• Drilling holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers so that water will not collect.
• Disposing of old tires.
• Cleaning roof gutters, particularly if leaves are plugging the drains.
• Turning over plastic wading pools when not in use.
• Turning over wheelbarrows.
• Ensuring that water doesn’t stagnate in birdbaths.
• Aerating ornamental pools or stocking them with fish.
• Cleaning and chlorinating swimming pools when not in use.
• For stagnant pools of water that cannot be removed or drained, using Bti products such as mosquito dunks. Bti is a naturally occurring bacterial product that kills mosquito larvae but is safe for people, pets, aquatic life and plants.
For more information on West Nile Virus, visit the CCHD website at www.chesco.org/wnv, call CCHD at 610-344-6752, or visit the state’s West Nile Virus Control Program website at www.westnile.state.pa.us.
