LOWER MERION – Health officials in Montgomery County reported that West Nile virus was detected in a sample of mosquitoes collected in the Wynnewood section of Lower Merion Township on August 13.
“We have had a rainy, hot, and humid summer, and those conditions are just what mosquitoes need to thrive. While we cannot change the weather, we can take appropriate precautions to protect ourselves from mosquito bites and reduce exposure to West Nile Virus,” Lower Merion officials said in a press release.
The precautions township officials are asking the public to consider include removing or draining standing water in gutters, drains, tires, and containers, and being vigilant, especially during rainy weather. They are also asking residents to make sure screens on doors and windows are in good condition and, when possible, avoid outdoor activities when mosquitoes are most active, from dusk to dawn. If anyone must be outdoors when mosquitoes are active, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks, and use mosquito repellent with an EPA registration number on the label, following the manufacturer’s recommended use.
The discovery in Lower Merion marks the second time this summer the virus was found in a Main Line community. In July, the Delaware County Health Department notified Radnor Township that one of the mosquito traps set by the Mosquito-Borne Disease Control Program in Racke Park tested positive for West Nile Virus.
“This simply means that some number of mosquitoes that were captured in the trap were carrying the virus. This does not mean that a person tested positive,” Radnor officials wrote in their press release. “Currently, this does not indicate widespread public health risk but serves as an important reminder to take precautions against mosquito bites. The Township is working closely with county and state health agencies to monitor the situation.”