Mosquitoes

MERCERSBURG, Pa. -- Weather conditions permitting, spraying to control mosquito populations will be conducted during the evening hours Tuesday, with Wednesday scheduled as a backup in portions of Mercersburg borough, according to a news release from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Two recent collections of mosquitoes have tested positive for the West Nile virus in this area, the news release stated. The treatments will be conducted after sundown using the product BioMist, the news release stated.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced Monday that another sample of mosquitoes from Franklin County has tested positive for West Nile virus. The county has had eight samples test positive in the past few weeks. Through mid-August, DEP officials said there weren't any positive samples in Franklin County. The state's website shows 413 samples from Franklin County have been tested so far in 2010.

Experts say the following steps will help minimize the mosquito population: Clean rain gutters to allow water to flow freely. Cover rain barrels with netting. Remove old tires or drill holes in tires used as playground equipment. Turn over wheelbarrows, wagons and carts when not in use. Turn garbage can lids upside down and make sure trash receptacles don't contain water. Empty water from flower pots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels and cans at least once or twice a week.

By LAURA ERNDE Staff Writer Mosquitoes and good news don't usually go together, but this season Tri-State area residents may have two reasons to cheer. Cool and dry weather is staving off the biting bugs. And for those communities that still have unbearable mosquito problems, a kinder and gentler pesticide is available, experts say. The Maryland Department of Agriculture originally predicted a nasty mosquito season, much like last year's, because of a mild winter.

Officials at the University of Maryland say that because of the recent heavy rains, this is likely to be a bumper year for mosquitoes. Getting bitten is no fun, but there might be more than discomfort involved if you're bitten by a bug carrying the West Nile virus or encephalitis. But you can increase your odds of avoiding infection if you take precautions recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. CDC's tips include: Use an EPA-registered insect repellent such as those with DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

With a growing number of confirmed cases in the Tri-State area, including two possible human cases in Washington and Frederick counties, West Nile virus should be a cause for concern for all in the region, particularly those with weakened immune systems. It's time to eliminate the areas where mosquitoes breed. The virus is spread by the winged pests and its symptoms can resemble the flu, with fever, headache confusion and muscle pain. More serious cases can be fatal. Animals all over the region, including horses and birds, have tested positive for the virus.

By Dennis Shaw One of life's more difficult experiences for me is to be a guest at someone's home and keep my mouth shut while they do something I don't approve of. This happened to me recently when I was invited over for "a picnic dinner out on the deck. " This sounded harmless enough, and in most respects, it was. In fact, the food, the weather and the company were nearly perfect. But alas, throughout the meal, my hosts were engaging in murder. It was hard not to be aware of it, for every few seconds I'd hear a zapping or popping sound as another innocent victim was electrocuted.

charlestown@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A crow found in a nearby subdivision has tested positive for the West Nile virus, making Berkeley County the third county in the Eastern Panhandle to show presence of the virus, health officials said Tuesday. The crow was found about two weeks ago by a property owner in the Equestrian Center subdivision, which is off Whitings Neck Road in the northern part of Berkeley County, said Jim Barnhart, a sanitarian for the Berkeley County Health Department.

scottb@herald-mail.com The mosquito-spread West Nile virus problem is over for the year because mosquitoes went dormant with the first hard freeze, but the problem will resurface in the spring, Washington County Health Officer William Christoffel said Wednesday. The freeze occurred within the last week, he said. The Health Department is already planning ways to fight the spread of the virus in the spring. The work will include putting larvicide in storm water management ponds and determining areas considered most vulnerable to outbreaks, he said.

With the number of confirmed cases of birds with the West Nile virus on the rise in Washington County, residents are being urged to take precautions to combat the spread of the virus. People can reduce their risk of becoming infected with West Nile virus by taking the following steps to avoid mosquitoes: Staying indoors at dawn or early in the evening. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when going outdoors. Spraying clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET, since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing.

Mosquito spraying is scheduled for portions of Southampton and Greene townships this evening. The spraying starting at sundown will be conducted if weather permits, according to a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection news release. Residential areas will be sprayed for adult mosquitoes. The DEP said a large number of nuisance mosquitoes have emerged as the result of recent rains. Certain mosquito species carry West Nile virus.

The children and adults at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Williamsport raised $1,000 from their Bible school offering this past summer.The money will be used to provide mosquito netting to the children of the Kuria tribe, the poorest tribe in Kenya. The netting will help protect the children from getting bitten by mosquitoes carrying malaria.Each night, Jenna Shenk, who is a doctor, spoke to the children and adults about the dangers of malaria. Shenk said 3.3 billion people live in danger of getting malaria and 250 million people get malaria each year.

Mosquito spraying has been scheduled for this evening in Hamilton and Greene townships, according to a news release from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Truck-mounted spraying will be conducted Thursday if weather is poor today. Crews will spray Biomist 3+15 to try to reduce the spread of West Nile virus.

Mosquito spraying is scheduled for portions of Quincy, Washington, Guilford, Greene and Southampton townships today, according to a news release from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Large populations of floodwater, nuisance mosquitoes have emerged, the news release stated. Weather permitting, crews will spray Biomist 3 + 15 in the early evening.

Mosquito spraying in Franklin County is scheduled to begin Tuesday in response to increased reports of mosquito populations. Franklin County’s West Nile virus coordinator, Raymond Eckhart, said mosquitoes have more spots to breed because of standing water from this month’s rains. This year’s spraying starts two weeks earlier than normal. The Penn State Cooperative Extension Office in Franklin County has received more calls than normal from residents reporting large quantities of mosquitoes, Eckhart said.

MERCERSBURG, Pa. -- Weather conditions permitting, spraying to control mosquito populations will be conducted during the evening hours Tuesday, with Wednesday scheduled as a backup in portions of Mercersburg borough, according to a news release from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Two recent collections of mosquitoes have tested positive for the West Nile virus in this area, the news release stated. The treatments will be conducted after sundown using the product BioMist, the news release stated.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced Monday that another sample of mosquitoes from Franklin County has tested positive for West Nile virus. The county has had eight samples test positive in the past few weeks. Through mid-August, DEP officials said there weren't any positive samples in Franklin County. The state's website shows 413 samples from Franklin County have been tested so far in 2010.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- In 2005 and 2006, Franklin County held the dubious honor of having more mosquito samples test positive for West Nile virus than any other county in Pennsylvania. It was a state leader for positive samples in other years. That changed in 2010. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection had no reports of West Nile virus-positive mosquitos in Franklin County. Its data shows 265 samples were tested. The county posted 68 positive samples in 2005, 65 in 2006, seven in 2007 and 34 in 2008.

Council takes first step to allow beer at golf course WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- The Waynesboro Borough Council last week took an early step toward allowing golfers participating in tournaments at Waynesboro's Municipal Golf Course to consume alcohol. The council's unanimous vote means the rule changes will be advertised and scheduled for public hearings, possibly in August, Borough Manager Lloyd Hamberger said. "Basically it says this is the ordinance we want to show to the public and we'll send it to the state," he said, saying the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry must look at the revisions.

"I'd like to give Chris and Gary Grimes a thumbs up for Williamsport Days. ... I saw them the whole time at Williamsport Days, still volunteering their time, helping the young lady who was in charge of Williamsport Days. Good job, you two. " - Williamsport "So, the County Commissioners can come up with $200,000 for a study on wastewater treatment, but they can't help with the $100,000 needed to keep Sideling Hill Visitor Center/geological museum open. They sure gave us the axe out here, and didn't even give anyone a reasonable amount of time to figure out other options.