Tag: mosquitoes

The Philadelphia Health Department is spreading the word about the West Nile virus’ presence in the city and asking for the public’s help combatting the further spread of the disease, they are also asking for help from residents.

https://www.metro.us/news/local-news/philadelphia/west-nile-virus-philly

By Sam Newhouse

The health department is cautioning residents that mosquito season is not over. And the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has said this year marks the highest level statewide for West Nile virus activity in the mosquito population since 2000.

As a result, the city’s health department is taking steps to control mosquitoes but is asking for the public’s help too.

http://www2.philly.com/philly/health/science/philly-11-west-nile-cases-20180921.html

By Frank Kummer

Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley issued a statement Friday urging residents to wear mosquito repellent and dump standing water, which is essential to breeding.

Anyone who experiences unexplained headaches, weakness or fatigue should contact their primary care physician.

The Philadelphia Health Department has treated more than 57,000 storm drain inlets with larvicide to prevent mosquito breeding. The department also has conducted four aerosol sprays to kill adult mosquitoes in areas where West Nile Virus is known to occur.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/eleven-cases-west-nile-virus-reported-philly/

By John Kopp

Philadelphia health officials are confirming nearly a dozen cases of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus so far this year. KYW Newsradio’s Mark Abrams reports.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/media/audio-channel/philly-health-department-wetter-weather-more-mosquitoes-led-west-nile-infections

By Mark Abrams

Métodos de prevención contra infestación de mosquitos

Filadelfia sufre con la propagación de mosquitos en aguas estancadas de riachuelos.

https://www.telemundo62.com/videos/destacados/Propagaci_n-de-mosquitos-aterra-con-virus-a-Filadelfia_TLMD—Philadelphia-492894451.html

By Iris Delgado

Over in North Philly, Emily Kehoe tramples through an overgrown back alley as a fierce-sounding dog locked up nearby barks like mad. Kehoe ignores the mutt and presses on, stepping over brambles and trash to a trap set the day before.

“There are leaves, buckets, tires, everything mosquitos like,” says the mosquito surveillance and control technician for the city’s Health Department. “I just saw this area yesterday, thought it’d be a good place for a trap, set one up, and we’ll see if we caught anything.”

She did – dozens upon dozens of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which like to breed in the small puddles that form inside old tires, discarded buckets, or broken bottles.

“It is an interesting job, that’s for sure – like nothing I’ve had,” says Kehoe, who has a master’s degree in public health. “I’m crawling through alleys, looking in people’s yards for standing water. I do get some strange looks, but once I explain that I’m here to help them get rid of mosquitos, they are fully on board… most of the time.”

Kehoe is on the lookout for Zika, West Nile, and other nasty viruses spread by the bloodsucking bugs. Every day, the city readies itself for a dreadful tomorrow. Officials monitor the outbreaks of diseases and the predicted paths of distant hurricanes. If there is an emergency on this day, the city has 15,552 water bottles on hand, just in case. It’s work that goes unnoticed. And everyone, including those who do it, hope that’s the way things stay.

http://planphilly.com/articles/2018/08/28/a-day-in-the-life-of-philadelphia-and-the-people-who-make-it-go

By Jim Saksa