The PA Department of Environmental Protection announced that two mosquitoes in Montgomery County have tested positive for West Nile Virus. The positive results occurred in Upper Dublin and Upper Merion Townships. Although these are the first positives in Montgomery County, they aren’t the first in the state. That title goes to Altoona, PA in Blair County. There are no sprayings planned at this time.

From the Ambler Patch:

 

Local health officials released the following tips in 2015 to help avoid mosquito bites and to prevent mosquito populations from increasing artificially:

 

• Stay indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active
• Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants when outside
• Use insect repellents when mosquitoes are active
• Dispose of open containers that may collect water, such as tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, etc.
• Drill holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers so that water will not collect
• Keep your property clear of old tire
• Clean roof gutters, particularly if leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug drains
• Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use
• Turn over wheelbarrows and don’t let water stagnate in birdbaths
• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish
  Clean and chlorinate swimming pools when not in use
• A swimming pool left untended by a family on vacation for a month can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood-wide complaints. Mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on pool covers
  For stagnant pools of water that cannot be removed or drained, homeowners can buy Bti products such as mosquito dunks at lawn/garden, outdoor supply, home improvement and other stores. This naturally occurring bacterial product kills mosquito larvae but is safe for people, pets, aquatic life and plants.