Community Corner
West Nile Virus Found in Mosquito
West Nile Virus found in two people in Pennsylvania so far this year. Mosquito found in the virus in Easton this past week.
Written by Tom Coombe
State health workers found the West Nile Virus in an Easton mosquito Friday, according to the Pennsylvania West Nile Virus Control Program.
The mosquito was one of 31 found in the state carrying the potentially deadly disease on Friday. Last year, at least two mosquitoes found in Easton tested positive for West Nile.
So far this year, two people in Pennsylvania—one in York County, one in Montgomery County—have been diagnosed with West Nile. One of them, the man in Montgomery County, was hospitalized, according to Philly.com.
The DEP lists some ways to reduce your risk for West Nile:
- Eliminate all standing water. It could collect in wheelbarrows, wading pools or old tires. Turn them over or put them away.
- Clean out roof gutters.
- If you have an ornamental pond or pool, aerate it, or stock it with fish.
- Make sure screens are tight and in good condition.
- Limit exposure at peak mosquito times, which are dawn and dusk.
- Use a repellent.
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