West Nile Mosquito Spraying To Occur In Norristown

NORRIOSTOWN, PA — Part of Norristown will sprayed with chemicals Tuesday to help control the mosquito population in the area potentially carrying West Nile Virus.

The spraying will occur from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in a square area of several blocks bounded by Forest Avenue, Sterigere Street, and Stanbridge Avenue.

Residents within the spray area, outlined below, should stay indoors during that time. Windows should be closed, and ventilation systems that draw in outside air should be turned off until 11 p.m.

A rain date has been set for Thursday, Aug. 26.

The spray is a Duet duel-action adulticide which will be disbursed at .75 ounces per acre from a truck-mounted sprayer.

According to the CDC, about one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About one out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness. You can reduce your risk of West Nile Virus by using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent mosquito bites, the CDC said.

West Nile virus appeared for the first time in Pennsylvania in birds, mosquitoes and a horse in 2000.

West Nile can cause febrile illness, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord), according to the CDC. The elderly and those already sick are those most vulnerable to the virus.

The Montgomery County Office of Public Health offers the following tips to help eliminate mosquito breeding areas:

• Identify and eliminate all sources of standing water. Mosquitoes will breed in any stagnant water that stands for five or more days.
• Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic posts or similar water holding containers. Don't overlook container that have become overgrown by aquatic vegetation.
• Pay special attention to discarded tires that may have collected water. They can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling container that are left outdoors. Drainage holes that are located on the container sides collect enough water for mosquitoes to breed in.
• Have clogged roof gutters cleaned on an annual basis, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to block drains.
• Turn over plastic wading pols when not in use. A wading pool becomes a place for mosquitoes to breed if it is not used on a regular basis.
• Turn over wheelbarrows and do not allow water to stagnate in birdbaths.
• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens are fashionable but become major mosquito breeding grounds if they are allowed to stagnate.
• Keep swimming pools clean and chlorinated. A swimming pool that is left untended becomes a source of mosquito breeding. Be aware that mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on swimming pool covers.