Thursday, April 18, 2013
Montgomery County urges residents to prepare, avoid mosquitoes.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, April 18
The West Nile Virus (WNV) season has begun and the Montgomery County Health Department (MCHD) is recommending that residents take precautions to clear away mosquito breeding areas around their homes. WNV, which surfaced in the U.S. more than ten years ago, is commonly transmitted back and forth between infected birds and mosquitoes. However, humans can become the unintended hosts of the disease when they are bitten by an infected mosquito. With the onset of warmer weather and peak WNV season approaching, MCHD is reminding residents that they can help prevent the spread of WNV by eliminating standing water from their property. “West Nile Virus was particularly prevalent last year, and in preparation for this upcoming season, we urge …
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
West Nile Virus was recently discovered in Collegeville, Trappe and Upper Providence mosquitoes, where spraying is being performed.
Mosquito spraying will occur in Collegeville, Trappe and Upper Providence tonight between 7:15 pm and 10 pm. The Montgomery County Health Department (MCHD) will perform the non-arial sprays where mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus were recently found. The boundaries for spraying in Collegeville Borough are East Main St., West 5th Ave. and Avon Ave., east to the borough line. The Trappe Borough boundaries will be Borough Line Rd., North Borough LIne Rd., Linfield Trappe Rd., West Main St. and West 7th Ave. Spraying in Upper Providence Township will be limited to the Perkiomen Woods housing development. Boundary maps can be found in the photo section of this article. Residents can visit the EPA Website to learn more about products …
Friday, September 14, 2012
Infected mosquitoes have been found in the area, according to Montgomery County officials.
Mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus (WNV) have been found in the Perkiomen Valley, according to Montgomery County Communications Officer Frank Custer. “This is one of the worst years we’ve had for West Nile Virus,” said Custer, who said that there were 154 incidents of WNV in mosquitoes found throughout the county, and one human case. “The county has re-deployed personnel to spray throughout the county – crews have been spraying almost every evening,” said Custer. County officials are asking residents to help curb this issue by removing all stagnant water from their properties – such as birdbaths, gutters, and other water that has collected. According to Custer, it can take a mosquito, in warm weather and living in water, only six …
Monday, September 10, 2012
The 64-year-old Lafayette Hill resident became ill Aug. 19.
Update, 5 p.m. Monday: The patient is a 64-year-old woman from Lafayette Hill, Whitemarsh Township, according to Montgomery County spokesperson Frank Custer. No information has been released regarding her condition. *** State health officials on Monday reported Montgomery County's first human case of West Nile virus. The patient is a woman who became ill Aug. 19, said state DEP spokeswoman Lisa Kasianowitz. Citing privacy concerns, Kasianowitz declined to provide more information about the woman or where in Montgomery County she contracted the virus. Also unclear was the woman's medical condition. One of the 18 people to get West Nile virus in Pennsylvania this year, a Luzerne County man, has died. A Lancaster County human case also was …
Sunday, August 26, 2012
West Nile virus has been making headlines locally and nationally, so what does this mean for you? Should you be worried and how does this compare with other diseases?
West Nile virus made national news this week with an announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We're in the midst of one of the largest West Nile virus outbreaks ever seen in the United States,” said Dr. Lyle Petersen on Tuesday, who is the director of the Division of Vector-borne Infectious Diseases at the CDC. We are hearing more about West Nile virus and the cases of the virus being found on our doorstep. Each weekday, the Pennsylvania West Nile Control Program releases more positive test results of West Nile found in mosquitoes, bird and other animals. Within the recent weeks, they’ve been reporting human cases. Friday, the program reported a Philadelphian tested postive for the virus. That human case joins one…
Thursday, August 16, 2012
According to Montco Board of Commissioners chair, Josh Shapiro, the best way of avoiding West Nile Virus is by eliminating its source's breeding grounds.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, August 16, 2012
Since surveillance testing has indicated West Nile virus (WNV) activity is present throughout the county, the Montgomery County Health Department wants to remind residents that the risk of WNV is strong and may remain so for some time this season, thus the focus should be on personal protection. There have been 75 mosquito pools which tested positive for WNV so far this season, compared to 31 positive pools during the same period last year. The first positive test was reported on May 17 this year, compared to June 9 last year. A mosquito pool is a collection of mosquitoes (usually about 50) of any given species or group (i.e. Culex mosquitoes) that are likely to carry/transmit a virus. WNV is transmitted to people by infected mosquitoes…
Monday, July 23, 2012
Positive samples found from Pottstown to Upper Moreland.
Mosquitos testing positive for West Nile Virus have now been found in ten Montgomery County communities, as the virus heads into its prime time of the year, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP said Monday that samples have now been found in Cheltenham, Plymouth and Upper Moreland townships, following positive findings in Abington, Conshohocken, Lower Merion, Montgomery, Pottstown, Springfield and Whitemarsh earlier this month. "Montgomery County had a pretty high concentration of positives in early to mid-July," said DEP spokeswoman Amanda Witman. "As we progress through the summer, we're getting to the point where the propensity of the virus will begin to accelerate." Witman said that out of the …
Dave Sobczak
7:26 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
According to Colorado State University- How far do mosquitoes typically fly? A few kinds of mosquitoes will fly only a few yards from their larval habitat to take a blood meal. More typically adults will fly a mile or two to feed. However, some mosquitoes have been observed to fly 10 miles or more. So spraying this 3 or 4 blocks should keep us all safe. more ›