NEWS RELEASE

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Christina Novak
DCNR Press Secretary
(717) 772-9101

MOSQUITO SPRAYING IN INDIANA COUNTY DESIGNED TO CONTROL THREAT OF WEST NILE VIRUS

HARRISBURG (July 5, 2006) — Four treatments to control adult mosquitoes will take place over the next week at Yellow Creek State Park in Brush Valley and Cherry Hill townships, where sampling by Indiana County and the Department of Environmental Protection has shown mosquito populations that potentially can carry the West Nile virus.

DEP today reported a mosquito trapped in the park tested positive for the virus.

Weather conditions permitting, spraying will take place during the evening hours after the park closes on Thursday, July 6; Monday, July 10; and Thursday, July 13. The county also will treat a Boy Scout camp within the park on Saturday, July 8, a day when it is not in use.

The county will use a truck-mounted ultra-low volume unit to apply Anvil 10+10, and DEP will use an ATV-mounted ultra-low volume unit to mist areas with Pyrocide 7396. ULV sprayers dispense very fine aerosol droplets that stay aloft and kill mosquitoes on contact.

DEP and its partners have an aggressive mosquito surveillance and control program to contain the virus in Pennsylvania and keep residents safe. Indiana County has been monitoring mosquito production locations, performing for larviciding activities throughout the county while monitoring adult populations in areas of concern.

Certain species of mosquitoes carry West Nile virus, which, when transmitted to people, can cause West Nile encephalitis, an infection that can result in an inflammation of the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all residents of areas where virus activity has been identified are at risk of getting West Nile encephalitis; people over 50 have the highest risk of severe disease.

There have been no confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in Pennsylvania this year.

There are things every individual can do around the home to help eliminate mosquito-breeding areas. Some of these tips include:

• Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that have collected on your property.
• Pay attention to discarded tires. Stagnant water in tires are where most mosquitoes breed.
• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers left outdoors.
• Have clogged roof gutters cleaned every year, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug up the drains. Roof gutters can produce millions of mosquitoes each season.
• Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use. Stagnant water in a wading pool becomes a place for mosquitoes to breed.
• Turn over wheelbarrows and don’t let water stagnate in birdbaths. Both provide breeding habitats for domestic mosquitoes.
• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens can become major mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate. Clean and chlorinate swimming pools not in use. A swimming pool left untended by a family on vacation for a month can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood-wide complaints. Mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on pool covers.
• For stagnant pools of water, homeowners can buy Bti products at lawn and garden, outdoor supply, home improvement, and other stores. This naturally occurring bacteria kills mosquito larvae but is safe for people, pets, aquatic life and plants.

• Make sure screens fit tightly over doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out of homes.
• Consider 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, reduce outdoor exposure at dawn and dusk during peak mosquito periods, usually April through October.
• Use insect repellents according to the manufacturer’s instructions. An effective repellent will contain DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Consult with a pediatrician or family physician if you have questions about the use of repellent on children, as repellent is not recommended for children under the age of two months.

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2006