Anti-Mosquito Spraying Planned In Delco

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Health officials in Delaware County will be spraying for mosquitoes Monday night after more than a dozen mosquito pools were identified as carrying West Nile Virus.

The Delaware County Mosquito Control Program will conduct adulticide spraying in Upper Darby Township, Lansdowne Borough, Yeadon Borough, and Darby Borough at 8 p.m. Monday.

In the event of weather or other unexpected delays, spraying will take place Wednesday.

Crews will be applying the spray for about three hours from a silver Ford F-150 with a Delaware County logo.

The aim is to reduce mosquito-borne illness risk

Residents in the area should stay indoors during the spraying and close their windows and doors.

Pets and children should also be brought inside.

Air conditioners should be powered off, or switched to recirculation mode.

So far this year, the county has identified 13 pools of mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile Virus. They are:

• Chester Heights Borough — Aug. 14
• Lansdowne Borough — Aug. 12
• Trainer Borough — Aug. 12
• Lansdowne Borough — Aug. 12
• Yeadon Borough — Aug. 12
• Radnor Township — Aug. 12
• Brookhaven Borough — Aug. 6
• Chester Heights Borough — Aug. 6
• Haverford Township — Aug. 6
• Media Borough — Aug. 6
• Haverford Township — Aug. 5
• Norwood Borough — Aug. 5
• Upland Borough — Aug. 5

Most people — eight out of 10 — infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms.

Roughly one in five people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people who develop symptoms of West Nile virus recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.

About one in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain, or meningitis, which is inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

The most effective way to prevent the spread of West Nile virus is to keep mosquitoes from breeding on your property. To protect themselves and to help prevent the spread of West Nile virus, residents are encouraged to remember the "Three Ds:"

• DRAIN - Anything that can hold water can breed mosquitoes, from soda bottle caps to discarded tires. Check your property for these sources of standing water and dump them out. At least once or twice a week, empty water from flowerpots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, cans, wheelbarrows, boats, cargo trailers, toys and any other items outside your home. Empty and store wading pools for kids on their side, and any other sources of standing water outside your home.
• DRESS - Wear clothing like long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats to protect against bug bites. You can further protect yourself by tucking your pants into your boots. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants is a great way to prevent not only mosquito bites but tick bites as well.
• DEFEND - Wear insect repellent with DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus on exposed skin when outdoors. Another effective repellent is Permethrin. Be sure to carefully follow the instructions on the labels when using these repellents.