Morningside Treatment of West Nile Virus
PITTSBURGH – The Allegheny County Health Department will be treating The Hill District, Upper Hill, Polish Hill, Bloomfield, Friendship, Stanton Heights, Morningside, Highland Park, and Homewood for mosquitoes. Positive tests for West Nile Virus were recently found in those areas.
Crews will use a truck mounted sprayer on Tuesday, August 18th, from 8 to 11 pm, or Wednesday evening in the event of rain.
The health department will be using a pesticide called Zenivex E20. The pesticide is among the safest approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and considered low risk to people, pets, pollinators, and wildlife.
West Nile Virus is the leading mosquito-borne disease in the United States. It is spread to people by bites from infected mosquitoes. Cases of West Nile Virus occur during mosquito season, which starts in the spring and continues through the fall.
Most people infected with West Nile Virus do not feel sick. Only one in five people infected with the virus develop a fever and other symptoms, such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Less than one percent of infected people develops a serious illness.
“Generally, the species of mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus are active from dusk to dawn,” said Allegheny County Health Department Vector Control Specialist Nicholas Baldauf. “To deter mosquito bites, we encourage people to use insect repellent on exposed skin or to wear long sleeves and pants. Both methods are effective at reducing or eliminating the possibility of getting a mosquito bite.”
There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat West Nile Virus. Residents who believe they, or someone they know, have West Nile Virus should consult a health care provider for evaluation and diagnosis.
“Allegheny County residents play an important role when it comes to reducing the area’s mosquito population,” said Baldauf. “Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a half inch of stagnant water, so residents should pay close attention to potential breeding sites like stagnant water in tires, unused swimming pools, buckets, corrugated piping, and clogged gutters.”
Residents can report mosquito breeding sites on both private properties and public areas to the Allegheny County Health Department’s Housing and Community Environment Program by completing its online form or calling 412-350-4046.
For more information on West Nile Virus, including frequently asked questions about prevention, symptoms, and transmission, visit the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) West Nile Virus webpage.
