“I can’t go outside and catch fireflies with my little brother without getting bit up,” said Vincent Lenzoni, a DuBois resident.
Many DuBois residents described the severity of mosquitos this year for WJAC-TV. Many residents said that outdoor activities, such as gardening or sitting outside, have become impossible.
“It’s tough because you’re getting bit up,” said DuBois resident Kay Boyd-Rowe.
As a result, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection treated DuBois City and Sandy Township to control its adult mosquito populations Thursday evening.
The treatments were administered by all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and truck-mounted equipment to spray open spaces in residential, recreational and industrial areas. The equipment dispenses Biomist 3+15 at a rate of 1.5 ounces per acre, according the DEP web site.
Biomist 3+15 is designed to provide quick, effective control of adult mosquito populations. The application material has a very low toxicity profile to mammals and is safe for the environment.
The DEP told WJAC-TV they conduct mosquito sprayings for two reasons. There are an overwhelming amount of mosquitos as well as health and safety concerns.
During the mosquito spraying Thursday evening, the DEP officials determined the potential for West Nile Virus in one trap. If that mosquito had bitten a human or animal, they would have become infected with the virus.
Certain mosquito species carry the West Nile virus, which can cause humans to contract West Nile encephalitis, an infection that can result in an inflammation of the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all residents in areas where virus activity has been identified are at risk of contracting West Nile encephalitis.
According to the DEP web site, mosquito samples in 46 counties have been identified with the West Nile virus so far this year. Human cases have been confirmed in Bucks, Centre, Delaware, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon and Lehigh counties.
Individuals can take a number of precautionary measures around their homes to help eliminate mosquito-breeding areas, including:
• Dispose of cans, buckets, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar containers that hold water on your property.
• Properly dispose of discarded tires that can collect water. Stagnant water is where most mosquitoes breed.
• Drill holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers.
• Have clogged roof gutters cleaned every year, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug drains.
• Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use.
• Turn over wheelbarrows and don’t let water stagnate in birdbaths.
• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools not in use and remove any water that may collect on pool covers.
For stagnant pools of water, homeowners can buy Bti products at lawn and garden, outdoor supply, home improvement and other stores. This naturally occurring bacteria kills mosquito larva but is safe for people, pets, aquatic life and plants, according to the DEP web site.
Additionally, these simple precautions can prevent mosquito bites, particularly for people who are most at risk:
• Make sure screens fit tightly over doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out of homes.
• Consider wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks when outdoors, particularly when mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, or in areas known for having large numbers of mosquitoes.
• When possible, reduce outdoor exposure at dawn and dusk during peak mosquito periods, usually April through October.
• Use insect repellants according to the manufacturer’s instructions. An effective repellant will contain DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Consult with a pediatrician or family physician if you have questions about the use of repellant on children, as repellant is not recommended for children under the age of two months.
The DEP told WJAC-TV that mosquito season is from the height of summer until the first fall frost.
For more information about West Nile virus and the state’s surveillance and control program, visit www.westnile.state.pa.us.