Two Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile in Chester County

Two mosquito samples have tested positive for the Wet Nile Virus in West Cheste Borough according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

The are no reports of West Nile Virus being found in humans.

Mosquitoes breed rapidly in standing water. With the heavy rains of the past week, the DEP urges homeowners to eliminate standing water wherever possible in trash cans, garden wheelbarrows, gutters and wherever water pools and sits on your property. 

According to the DEP website you can also purchase a BTI, a bacteria that killes mosquito and black fly larvae, but is harmless to humans.

The site describes BTI this way:

State DEP and county mosquito control professionals have been using Bti, a naturally occurring bacteria, to kill mosquito larvae for years. This material is now becoming widely available for you to buy and use yourself at home.

Bti can be purchased in small, donut-shaped form, often called "mosquito dunks", which are useful in small areas of standing water, such as a birdbath or small puddle of water that may gather in a low spot on your property. A granular form of Bti is available, and effective for larger areas, such as backyard ponds.

Bti can be purchased in many lawn and garden, outdoor supply, and home improvement stores. The great thing about this bacteria is that it kills only mosquito and black fly larvae. It is not harmful to people, pets, aquatic life (such as fish) or plants.

The best way to control mosquitoes is still to get rid of standing water on your property. And, make sure you follow all label instructions carefully if you use Bti at home.