The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

July 25, 2012

More than just annoying

Mosquitoes can carry West Nile

By Sandy Scarmack Herald Staff Writer

MERCER COUNTY — As if the sheer fact that they exist isn’t annoying enough, the population of mosquitoes with the potential to carry the West Nile virus has exploded this year in Mercer County, thanks mostly to a mild winter, a wet spring and a hot summer, according to Amanda Witman of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Mercer County is one of the few counties that is surveyed annually, Witman said, because West Nile is usually found here. Of 55 mosquitoes tested, three – one in Farrell, one in Sharon and one in Grove City – were positive. One bird has contracted the virus, she said, but there have been no reports of any people who contracted the illness.

“We are on track this year to surpass the highest recorded year with the amount of positives,” she said. That was in 2003, when statewide 954 mosquitoes were positive for the virus, of 14,138 tested. The virus was originally detected in the county in 2000.

Statewide since May 402 mosquitoes were positive out of 6,389 tested. Biologists will continue testing until October, she said.

While the virus has been present every year, this year will “be more intense” because of the sheer volume of mosquitoes, which are most noticeable at dusk and hovering near standing water.

“It’s hard to imagine that the mosquitoes survived the winter, but they did and since then we’ve had the ‘perfect storm’ of weather conditions that allows them to thrive,” Witman said.

A person bitten with an infected mosquito may not even notice, she said, though symptoms are similar to that of any virus and include headaches, body aches and a fever. Many times people are bitten and just shrug it off, but she encourages those who may be more health-compromised, including the very young and the very old, to seek a doctor’s opinion if they suspect a problem.

Ed Bortner, a 73-year-old South Pymatuning Township resident, contracted the virus about 10 years ago. The worst part, he said, was trying to determine what was wrong. He described his symptoms as arthritis-like pain and said he felt as if “my joints froze up.” He said he was in several hospitals before a local infectious disease doctor diagnosed him with West Nile.

He doesn’t remember now what the treatment was, but he said he remains unafraid of another bite. “I mow my grass all the time. I’m out in the woods all the time. Whatever is going to happen, is going to happen. I guess some folks might be afraid.”

Witman said the state continues to monitor the county – even though the virus isn’t life-threatening – because it does affect human safety. “There is just such an excess of mosquitoes right now and they are pests. It’s worth the effort to try to control it,” she said.

The best way to avoid exposure is to rid your property of standing water – including water that collects in flower pots, recycle bins and wheelbarrows. Other tips include using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeves outside in the evening hours and cleaning gutters annually.

Some myths about mosquito repellents include the idea that “bug zappers” kill mosquitoes. In fact, according the state’s West Nile Virus website, those electric bug killers destroy beetles and moths, the very insects that eat mosquitoes.

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