Radnor Anti-Mosquito Spraying Set For Monday Night

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA – Rain postponed Radnor Township's planned anti-mosquito treatment spray Friday, meaning crews will spray several Radnor areas Monday night.

Areas in Radnor will be treated between 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Targeted areas will be:

• Tower Road;
• Radwyn Apartments;
• Ravenscliffe Road;
• Robinhood Road;
• Dartmouth Road;
• Martha Brown Woods;
• Fenimore Park;
• Ithan Valley Park.

The state latest data shows four mosquitos found in Radnor Wednesday, Aug. 15 were positive for West Nile Virus.

Staff from the Delaware County Mosquito-Borne Disease Control Program will perform the work using truck mounted spraying equipment with the business license BU10544 visible on the equipment. The product used will be Deltagard applied at a rate of 0.66 ounces per acre. It is designed to provide effective control of adult mosquitoes. The application material has a very low toxicity profile to mammals and is safe for the environment.

The CDC does state that you can stay indoors during the spray, but also states this is not necessary. The Township Health Officer believes the spray is an ultra-low volume Adulticide and about an ounce per acre is released into the air to kill flying adult mosquitos.

So far this summer, state data shows 200 positive West Nile samples have been collected in Delaware County.

See full details on West Nile Virus in the state here.

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

It is most commonly spread to humans by infected mosquitoes. It can cause febrile illness, encephalitis, or meningitis, according to the CDC.

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.

The best way to control mosquitoes is still to get rid of standing water on your property, according to information provided by the state's West Nile Virus Control Program.

The following guidelines have been offered to help residents minimize their risk:

• Limit outdoor activities at dawn and dusk during warmer months since most types of mosquitoes bite most frequently during these times. Be aware though that some types of mosquitoes bite most frequently during the daytime.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and socks. Choose clothing that is light colored and made of tightly woven material.
• Stay in places with air conditioning and window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are outside.
• Cover or empty containers such as trash cans, wading pools, wheelbarrows, and pots.
• Turn containers upside down when not in use so they don't collect water.
• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers.
• Get rid of old tires.
• Change the water in bird baths every three to five days.
• Check storm drains, window wells, and underneath leaky faucets for standing water.

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