Pocono News Section

Squashing West Nile in Montour County

Squashing West Nile in Montour County - Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 6:09PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Thursday, Aug 7, 2008 @ 06:09pm EST
Danville, Montour County-

There'll be a few less mosquitoes bugging folks in Montour County.

West Nile Virus was recently found in four mosquito samples there. Officials are taking precautions to stop the virus from spreading.

Sitting outside her apartment building, Nancy Washko, of Danville, is wary of the little summertime pest. Washko noted, "The mosquitoes come quite often at me. I sit around here and I get an awful lot of mosquitoes on me."

Only one case of a human contracting West Nile Virus has been reported in Pennsylvania this year. That was in Berks County.

Vector Management Director Greg Molter explained, "At one time, it was never found in the United States. Once it got here, it got a hold; it's pretty much here to stay. Some years are going to be stronger, more cases than others. Some years you may not find anything."

But officials in Montour County aren't taking any chances. Workers spent the afternoon spraying two locations around Danville, in an effort to curb the mosquito population here. Molter said, "As the mosquito sits to rest, it absorbs it into their skin, and they're done."

The chemical being sprayed here isn't harmful to humans, pets, plants or other wildlife. But it's deadly to mosquitoes.

Neighbors can protect themselves by using bug repellent, wearing long sleeves or pants, and ridding their properties of stagnant water, where mosquitoes love to breed. Molter cautioned, "Old tires, even toys laying in the yard. A Frisbee that's laying in the yard collecting rain for four or five days can be breeding mosquitoes."

West Nile Virus begins with flu-like systems, and can lead to neurological problems or death if untreated. But officials say there's no major cause for alarm here yet. Molter added, "Well I don't think people need to panic. They just need to understand to be aware of what's going on around them, be vigilant, and take care of themselves."

Officials in Montour County will be spraying those same two areas near Danville again tonight.