West Nile Virus Control in Pennsylvania

It has been over a decade since West Nile virus has been identified for the first time in the state of Pennsylvania. Older people and Delaware Valley residents with compromised immune systems have the highest risk of developing severe illness. However, anyone can get the virus. Since the summer of 2000 when the first of 4 dead birds tested positive in Bucks County and Delaware County PA, the state has been investing significant funds to prevent an outbreak from ever occurring. Most of the cases in Pennsylvania occur between July through early fall, although mosquito season is usually April-October. Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware County are all located in Pennsylvania’s High Risk areas for West Nile virus.

About 20% of the humans that do contract the illness from an infected mosquito may experience a fever, headache and body aches. Only a very small segment of these people end up with the more severe West Nile encephalitis. Use this West Nile virus fact sheet to help you better understand the complications and how to protect yourself and your family. The state of Pennsylvania is very aggressive in their prevention program but it is important that you take an active role in protecting your family.

Mosquito Control at Home

It is important to minimize any opportunity for mosquitoes to breed and their favorite places to congregate are stagnant water. Clogged gutters, recycling bins, bird baths, garden ponds or anything that collects water after it rains may be considered a breeding ground. So get in the habit of walking your property after it rains and pay attention to the water collectors. You can drill holes in garbage bins , turn over wheelbarrows, and remove old tires from your property. If you have a pond on your property or a more severe mosquito control problem, give us a call and with a trained eye we can add biodegradable mosquito dunks that are safe for your plants, animals, fish and family. Mosquito traps and ultra violet zappers strategically placed can do wonders for reducing the adult mosquito population.

Natural Mosquito Repellants

Deet is the chemical found in most over the counter insect repellants and has proven itself very effective at warding off insect bites. Activists have done their best to bring safety issues of this chemical to light and in 1998 after exhaustive studies, the EPA rules that Deet was a safe insect repellant when applied according to directions. There are many natural mosquito repellants on the market today that have proven their effectiveness and many of these products use at least one of these essential oils that repel insects.

One of the easiest ways to address your mosquito problem is to invite your Northeast Exterminating team out to your property in the early springtime and allow us to set up mosquito spraying program designed to kill mosquito larvae before the grow into biting adults.

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