CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — A second mosquito sample collected in Cumberland County tested positive for West Nile Virus, county officials said Friday.
The positive sample was taken in North Middleton Township, officials said. It is the second positive test sample taken in the county this year, out of 599 samples collected.
Residents can help prevent the diseases spread by mosquitos by:
- Using mosquito repellants, wearing longs sleeved shirts and pants.
- Taking extra precautions around dusk, the peak of female mosquito feeding.
- Securing window and doors screens, so mosquitos can’t make it into your home.
- Eliminating stagnate water around your property.
- Treating water sources that cannot be drained, mosquito dunks or bits that contain Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), which kills larvae. These products are safe for use around humans and pets, and can be found at hardware stores and other local retailers.
Mosquitoes transmit WNV by feeding on infected birds and transmit the disease when biting another bird, animal or human.
Cumberland County’s WNV program applies an Integrated Pest Management Plan to control mosquitoes, while limiting the effects to people and the environment.
Cumberland County Vector Control will continue to collect and monitor the mosquito population and to actively treat water habitat to limit future generations of mosquitoes.
The virus is not spread by person-to-person contact. One in five people infected with WNV develop a mild infection called West Nile Fever; aches, fever, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes are symptoms of this infection. With rest and fluids, most people recover in a few days. Less than one percent of infections develop into the life-threatening West Nile Encephalitis. Symptoms in severe cases include a high fever, headache, neck stiffness, muscle weakness, disorientation, tremors and convulsions. This infection requires immediate medical treatment.
