CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – Franklin County will spray neighborhoods and recreational areas in four municipalities next week after surveillance found high levels of West Nile virus in local mosquito populations.
Crews will begin truck-mounted spraying around sunset Sept. 1 in portions of Greene and Guilford townships. Areas of Washington Township and Waynesboro will be treated around sunset Sept. 2, according to Franklin County’s Mosquito-Borne Disease Program.
The spraying comes during a period of elevated West Nile activity across Pennsylvania. The state Department of Environmental Protection currently rates statewide West Nile virus risk as “high,” meaning the virus is being found frequently in mosquitoes collected through Pennsylvania’s surveillance program.
Spraying will cover neighborhoods, parks
The Sept. 1 treatment area includes Brownsville Road, Winterberry Drive, New Lane, Camelot Drive, Schaff’s Mobile Home Park, Cameo Drive, Medallion Drive and Main Street in Fayetteville.
Crews also plan to treat areas around Norlo Park, Harbo Road, the Guilford Township complex, Ragged Edge Road, Crestwood Drive, Highland Road and Leedy Way East. Nearby roads may also be included.
On Sept. 2, spraying is planned along Creekside Boulevard, Welty and North Welty roads, Quail Run Drive, Washington Township Boulevard, Country Club Road, Gehr Road, Green Ridge Drive, Old Forge Road, Brookdale Drive and Amsterdam Road, along with nearby areas.
Weather or other conditions could postpone either operation. The county has scheduled Sept. 3 as the rain date.
County asks residents to remain inside as truck passes
The county will use a truck-mounted ultra-low-volume sprayer to apply PermaSease 4-4 at a rate of 1 ounce per acre. The treatment targets adult mosquitoes and dissipates about 15 minutes after application, according to the county.
Spraying is conducted after sunset to reduce contact with bees and other non-target species.
County staff shut off the sprayer as a courtesy when they encounter people outside. Officials are asking residents to remain indoors while the truck passes because repeatedly stopping the application reduces the effectiveness of mosquito control across a neighborhood.
Pennsylvania uses adult mosquito spraying when surveillance finds significant numbers of mosquitoes infected with West Nile or other mosquito-borne viruses, or when clusters of disease indicate a public health risk.
Even a bottle cap can become mosquito habitat
Residents can also reduce mosquito populations around their homes by eliminating standing water. Mosquitoes can reproduce in surprisingly small amounts of water and can complete their aquatic development into adults in as little as a week.
Buckets, discarded tires, clogged gutters, flowerpots, tarps, birdbaths and pool covers are common breeding sites. Pennsylvania health officials say a mosquito can lay hundreds of eggs in an amount of water small enough to collect in a bottle cap.
The state recommends emptying or regularly changing standing water, maintaining window and door screens and using EPA-registered insect repellent. Long sleeves and pants can provide additional protection when mosquitoes are active.
Most people infected with West Nile virus do not become sick, but about one in five develops symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Serious neurological illness is much less common.
Franklin County Mosquito and Tick-Borne Disease Control Specialist Jason Goetz can be reached at 717-261-3855 or [email protected] for additional information.
