More West Nile Found in Upper Moreland

The day before Montgomery County is set to do another spraying to kill mosquitoes, more are found to be carrying West Nile virus.

Results from the Pennsylvania West Nile Control Program released Wednesday report a positive test from a mosquito pool in Upper Moreland Township.

The spraying by the Montgomery County Health Department is set for roughly 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday. See Patch’s previous story for the maps of the areas the county plans to target. Spraying will also take place in Horsham Township Thursday evening.

Humans can contract West Nile encephalitis, an infection that can result in an inflammation of the brain from infected mosquitoes. Do far this summer, there have been three human cases of West Nile in Pennsylvania, including one this month on Montgomery County.

In rare instances, humans afflicted with the West Nile Virus have died.  

Steps you can take around your home to help prevent the breeding of mosquitoes:

•  The best defense is to eliminate sources of standing water in your yard where mosquitoes may lay eggs. Fill, cover or remove any items that can trap water.

• Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that have collected on your property.

• Pay special attention to discarded tires.

• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers left outdoors.

• Have clogged roof gutters cleaned every year, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug up the 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.