STATE COLLEGE — The state Dept. of Environmental Protection Vector Management has reported to the Centre County Planning and Community Development Office that two mosquito samples collected recently in State College Borough have tested positive for the West Nile Virus.
Additional mosquito surveillance, sampling, and larval control are being performed as necessary by the Centre County Mosquito Disease Control Program staff.
Residents should take preemptive measures by inspecting their yards, take a few minutes to clean up, reduce yard clutter and dump out any sources of stagnant water.
Residents may also purchase a variety of mosquito control and repellent products available at most home and garden centers.
Performing a community-wide cleanup will help reduce most mosquito concerns. Residents are urged to contact their local municipality to help promote cleaning up to reduce mosquito concerns and disease risk. Stormwater management systems can sometimes contribute to mosquito issues and are routinely monitored by the Centre County Mosquito Disease Control Program staff.
Mosquito surveillance indicates that the most common mosquito species in residential areas come from artificial containers left behind by humans. Artificial containers can be something small, like a flower vase, to sometimes as large as a swimming pool. Additional containers such as tires, buckets, child toys, and tarps are preferred by mosquitoes because other predators found in nature, which would prey on mosquito larvae, are not present. During drought periods, these containers continue to hold water and produce mosquitoes. One bucket or tire in someone’s backyard can produce hundreds to thousands of mosquitoes in a year. In the months of May through October, mosquitoes can complete their life cycle within five to seven days. Residents should use repellents when spending time outside. As a last resort, residents can purchase insecticides from garden centers and hardware stores to spray in their yard but need to be sure to follow the label instructions.
