West Nile Virus Found In Three Lower Merion Samples

The Montgomery County Health Department said mosquito samples taken from three Lower Merion parks tested positive for West Nile Virus. According to Lower Merion Township, the samples were collected on Sept. 8 and Sept. 13 from Ashbridge Park in Rosemont, Shortridge Park in Wynnewood, and Penn Wynne Park.

The health department has not notified the township of any action needed at this time. However, the MCHD will provide updates to the situation if further information is made available or if adult mosquito control is necessary. Health Department officials will continue to monitor township parks. According to MCHD, areas including Lansadale Borugh, Hatfield Township, Whitpain Township, and Upper Merion Township earlier this month.

The positive samples were not unusual, however, Montgomery County Health Department Director for Environmental field serves Pam Lawn said.

"It is very typical," she said of the positives, noting the MCDH has been finding positive samples throughout the county thanks to multiple mosquito trap sites.

Lawn said it's female mosquitoes that bite humans and other animals, as they hope to get a blood meals to move along with egg production.

"They like birds," Lawn said, noting that birds carry the virus and mosquitoes are simply transporting the virus to humans through feeding.

According to the Pennsylvania West Nile Virus Control Program, the virus is present 37 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. However, just six people in the state have been affected by the virus, three of which developed encephalitis/meningitis.

While the Zika Virus has affected 108 people in the state according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, mosquitoes still pose a risk to people due to West Nile Virus. Generally, tips for avoiding Zika and West Nile are the same and focus on mitigating mosquito presences.

Tips include:

• using insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, some oil of lemon eucalyptus or paramenthane-diol;
• wearing long sleeves and pants when outside between dusk and dawn;
• emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels;
• changing the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly;
• keeping children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when they are not being used.

Lawn said the MCHD has been busier this year than in the past when it comes to standing water reports. She believes more reports are coming in due to the Zika Virus being in the news. She says the common denominator is mosquitoes and limiting their presence will help ensure a safe and healthy public.

She also said mosquito activity tends to decrease at the end of September and beginning of October as nights grow colder.

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