A grant totaling $39,934 to monitor the spread of West Nile virus will soon be awarded to Blair County Emergency Management as part of Pennsylvania’s Mosquito Surveillance Program, according to a press release from State Representative Jerry Stern (R-Blair).
In the release issued earlier this week, Stern said, “This funding will be used for a mosquito monitoring and virus surveillance program and to inform residents about any potential threats from the virus.
“West Nile virus has become a serious concern over the past several years and funding like this will help provide better health protection for area residents.”
West Nile virus appeared in Pennsylvania for the first time in 2000 in birds, mosquitoes and a horse. The Commonwealth has been actively monitoring for the virus since 1999.
The West Nile virus is primarily carried by the Northern House mosquito. Transmission by an infected mosquito to a human may result in West Nile encephalitis, which causes an inflammation of the brain. Those most at risk of developing severe illness from the virus include people over 50 years of age and those with compromised immune systems.
“Many senior citizens have contacted me expressing their concern about possibly being infected with West Nile virus,” said Stern. “I’m sure they will be relieved to know the county and state are taking proactive measures to monitor this potential threat.”
Because the virus is spread by infected mosquitoes, Stern noted that the best defense is not giving them a place to breed. Here are some things residents can do around their homes to prevent breeding areas:
• dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that have collected on your property.
• pay special attention to discarded tires. Stagnant water in tires are where most mosquitoes breed.
• drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers left outdoors.
• 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.
• turn over plastic wading pools when not in use. Stagnant water in a wading pool becomes a place for mosquitoes to breed.
• turn over wheelbarrows, and don’t let water stagnate in birdbaths. Both provide breeding habitats for domestic mosquitoes.
• aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens can become major mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate.
• clean and chlorinate swimming pools not in use. A swimming pool left untended by a family on vacation for a month can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood-wide complaints. Mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on pool covers
and use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property. Mosquitoes may breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days.
For more information on the West Nile virus, visit www.WestNile.state.pa.us.
