Bucks County To Be Sprayed For West Nile Virus: What You Need To Know

The Bucks County Department of Health will be conducting a joint mosquito spray in association with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) in Croydon, areas of West Bristol and areas of Cornwells Heights on Monday, August 24, 2015, they announced on Thursday.

The spray will commence at dusk, and will continue to completion.

The rain date for this spray will be Tuesday 8/25/15.

According to the Department of Health, the following areas will be affected:

In Croydon, all roads between Route 13 and River Road, from Oak Avenue to the Neshaminy Creek are to be included. In West Bristol the following are to be included; Clover Avenue, Charles, Walnut and Belmont Avenues, and Neshaminy Road from Route 13 to Belmont Avenue. Also, Snowden, Belardley, Carnarvon, Dixon, Llanberis, Westminster, Park, Western, Westview and Westwood Avenues. In Cornwells Heights, Williams, Dungan, Simons, Cornwells, Hopkin, Traylor and College Avenues are to be included as are, Ogden, Bowman and Finley Avenues from Cornwells Avenue to School Lane. Also, Gravel Pike, Rywal Lane, George Street, Kings Avenue, Hope Avenue and Regina Avenue.

County technicians will be driving a dark green Ford Ranger to implement the spraying.

They will be disbursing a chemical called Duet, at a rate of one ounce per acre, the health department said.

The chemical has a “very low” toxcicity profile to mammals and health officials say that there will be a negligible impact upon the local environment.

The nearby Montgomery County, which has implemented similar sprayings in Horsham, Abington, Lower Moreland, Cheltenham, and other locations, has the following answers to frequently asked questions by residents:

Should I remain indoors during the spray?

It is the recommendation of the MCHD to stay indoors during a mosquito spray event and remain indoors for 15-20 minutes after the truck sprays your immediate area.

Should I close my windows and turn off air conditioner (a.c.) units?

MCHD recommends closing windows and turning off fans that bring outside air into your home. If your window or central a.c. unit can be switched to only recirculate and cool air within your home, it is safe to leave it on. How far does the spray travel? The spray can travel up to 300 feet from the source and still be effective on mosquitoes. Depending on the wind and air currents, spray residual could travel farther but not in concentrations that would be effective for mosquito control.

Should my pet remain indoors during a spray?

The mosquito control products used by the MCHD are considered safe for animals and pets when used properly. However, if you wish to limit your pet’s exposure, keep them indoors. Should I take special precautions for my garden? There is nothing you have to do to fruit or vegetable gardens. MCHD recommends washing your fruits and vegetables prior to cutting and/or consuming them.

Should I take special precautions for my swimming pool?

Your swimming pool and items in your yard should not be affected by mosquito spraying conducted at the proper label rates. Mosquito control products are applied at ultra-low volume (ULV) rates, generally below one ounce/acre, and rapidly break down in sunlight. However, some people choose to cover pools and other items as a precaution.

Why do you choose to spray at that time?

Mosquito sprays only kill mosquitoes that are actively flying during the spray event. We start at dusk, because research has shown that the mosquitoes involved in WNV transmission begin activity at dusk and are the most active for the next three hours.

How many species of mosquitoes are there?

There are currently 62 species of mosquitoes in Pennsylvania. Many of those can be found in Montgomery County. Thankfully, only a fraction of the mosquito species found in Montgomery County are a potential WNV threat. The MCHD targets those species that pose a risk of spreading WNV.

Will the spray kill all of the mosquitoes in my neighborhood?

Mosquito sprays will only reduce the population of mosquitoes in a given area. There are many factors that contribute to the success of any mosquito spray. Truck mounted sprays are limited by the vehicle’s ability to access all of the areas within a selected spray zone. Weather conditions, such as temperature and wind speed, will also affect how successful a mosquito spray will be. Only those mosquitoes actively flying during a spray event have the potential to be killed.

Are there any weather conditions that will postpone a spray?

Rain, winds under 1 MPH and over 10 mph. or temperatures below 55°F will each cause the postponement of a mosquito spray event.

All local municipalities that are within a mosquito spray area are consulted and given detailed information about the spray.

The Bucks County Department of Health can be reached at 215-345-3318.