Mosquito spraying scheduled for Washington Township

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - The Franklin County West Nile Program will spray for mosquitos capable of transmitting the West Nile Virus on Thursday, Sept. 13 in Washington Township. 

The program will conduct an ultra-low volume mosquito control operation to reduce high populations of the insect, the Penn State Extension said in a news release. The treatments will be administered through equipment mounted on a truck, spraying residential and mosquito habitats. 

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The product is designed to provide quick, effective control of adult populations. The material also has a very low toxicity profile to mammals, and will have negligible impact to non-target bugs and the environment. 

Certain species of the insect can carry the disease, which can be transferred to humans and cause inflammation of the brain. The state's Department of Health said all residents in an area where the virus has been identified are at risk of contracting it. 

Spraying comes as 18 human cases of the virus have popped up in Pennsylvania, with two of those in Franklin County, according to Meredith Noll of the state West Nile Control Program. The county last had a human case four years ago, and the infection contributed to the death of a local elderly woman in 2005. 

West Nile has also been detected in several nearby areas, including Adams, Cumberland, Fulton, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties. 

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If weather conditions or other unexpected incidents occur, spraying will be delayed until the following evening. 

Residents can also take several precautions around their homes to prevent mosquitos from breeding. These include: 

• Disposing of cans, buckets, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar containers that hold water.
• Properly disposing of discarded tires that can collect water. Stagnant water is where most mosquitoes breed.
• Drilling holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers.
• Having clogged roof gutters cleaned every year, as the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug drains.
• Turning over plastic wading pools when not in use.
• Turning over wheelbarrows and not letting water stagnate in birdbaths.
• Aerating ornamental pools or stock them with fish.
• Cleaning and chlorinating swimming pools not in use and removing any water that may collect on pool covers. If a resident has stagnant pools of water on their property, they can buy BTI products at lawn and garden, outdoor supply, home improvement and other stores. This naturally occurring bacterium kills mosquito larvae, but is safe for people, pets, aquatic life and plants.

In addition, precautions can be taken to prevent mosquito bites, such as: 

• Making sure screens fit tightly over doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out of homes.
• Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks when outdoors, particularly when mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, or in areas known for having large numbers of mosquitoes.
• When possible, reducing outdoor exposure at dawn and dusk during peak mosquito periods, usually in April through October.
• Using insect repellents according to the manufacturer's instructions. An effective repellent will contain DEET, picardin or lemon eucalyptus oil. Consult with a pediatrician or family physician for questions about the use of repellent on children, as it is not recommended for children under the age of two months old. 

For more information about the West Nile Virus and the state's surveillance and control program, visit westnile.state.pa.us.