Anti-Mosquito Spraying Planned In Delaware County Next Week

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Health officials in Delaware County will be spraying for mosquitoes in four municipalities next week after they found more pools with mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus.

The Delaware County Health Department’s Mosquito-Borne Disease Control Program will conduct an Ultra-Low Volume mosquito adulticide spray in sections of Brookhaven Borough, Upland Borough, Parkside Borough, and Chester City on Tuesday.

Treatment will take place at about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday and end at about 10:30 p.m., weather pending.

In the event of weather or other unexpected delays, spraying will be rescheduled to Thursday.

Health authorities have found more than three dozen mosquito pools that tested positive for West Nile Virus so far this year:

• Haverford Township — Aug. 25
• Newtown Township — Aug. 25
• Concord Township — Aug. 22
• Radnor Township — Aug. 25
• Newtown Township — Aug. 18
• Media Borough — Aug. 18
• Concord Township — Aug. 18
• Haverford Township — Aug. 18
• Brookhaven Borough — Aug. 15
• Brookhaven Borough — Aug. 15
• Lansdowne Borough — Aug. 15
• Lansdowne Borough — Aug. 15
• Radnor Township — Aug. 15
• Yeadon Borough — Aug. 15
• Chester Heights Borough — Aug. 154
• Lansdowne Borough — Aug. 12
• Trainer Borough — Aug. 12
• Lansdowne Borough — Aug. 12
• Yeadon Borough — Aug. 12
• Radnor Township — Aug. 12
• Brookhaven Borough — Aug. 12
• 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
• Swarthmore Borough — Aug. 1
• Radnor Township — July 29
• Brookhaven Borough — July 28
• Lansdowne Borough — July 28
• Brookhaven Borough — July 25
• Brookhaven — July 23
• Brookhaven — July 23
• Haverford Township — July 14
• Lansdowne Borough — July 9

The work will be done using truck-mounted spraying equipment. The product used will be Duet Dual Action adulticide, applied at a rate of 0.64 ounces per acre, designed to provide quick and effective control of adult mosquitoes.

For resident safety and information, the business license ‘BU13865’ will be visible on department equipment.

Residential and recreational areas within the treatment zone will be treated to control adult
mosquitoes.

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.