West Nile Virus Found Throughout Residential Neighborhood In Lower Merion

LOWER MERION, PA — Pesticide will be sprayed throughout a residential neighborhood in Lower Merion after mosquitos in the area tested positive for West Nile Virus, officials said.

Collections of mosquitos contained the virus within a multi-block section of the Penn Wynne neighborhood — between Lankenau Medical Center and Penn Wynne Elementary School.

The Montgomery County Office of Public Health will spray the area from around 8-10 p.m. Wednesday, with a Thursday rain date for that same time.

All areas will be subject to spray within the highlighted borders of Remington Road, Haverford Road, Green Hill Lane, Ingeborg Road and City Avenue:

Residents should consider staying indoors, closing windows and turning off ventilation systems that draw in outdoor air during the spray plus 30 minutes afterward, officials said.

Workers will administer Duet® Duel-Action Adulticide at a rate of 0.75 fluid ounces per acre. It will be applied from an ATV-mounted Ultra Low Volume (ULV) sprayer.

For more information on the products being used, visit Montco's mosquito webpage. If you're hypersensitive to pesticides, you can apply for a state registry requiring pesticide businesses to notify you when they're spraying near your home, work or school.

West Nile Virus has been prevalent in mosquito populations throughout the region due rainy conditions creating standing water where mosquitos breed. The virus was detected a few weeks ago in Wynnewood.

Two human cases have been reported in the state this year.

Health officials advise residents to look around their yards and remove standing water, since even a small amount of water sitting for five days can produce thousands of mosquitos:

• After it rains, empty water from bird baths, flowerpots, kiddie pools and pool covers.
• Check roof gutters to make sure they drain properly and are free of debris.
• Keep swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs clean and chlorinated. If not in use, keep them covered and drain any water on top.
• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling bins so water can drain. Keep trash and recycling lids covered so rain cannot collect inside.
• Make sure window and door screens are not torn so mosquitoes cannot get inside.