Allegheny County reports more West Nile Virus seen in mosquito samples

Allegheny County Health Department officials Monday announced additional mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile virus, spurring additional mosquito treatments throughout the area.

The health department will treat areas in the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Point Breeze, Regent Square, East Hills, Homewood and Highland Park. Also treated will be the communities of Edgewood and Wilkinsburg.

This comes after officials last week announced similar treatments to combat the mosquito-borne virus in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood, South Side Slopes, Arlington, Carrick, Knoxville and Beltzhoover sections as well as in Mt. Oliver Borough.

Crews will use a truck-mounted ultra-low volume sprayer from 8 to 11 p.m. Wednesday in an effort to limit the local mosquito population and minimize the risk of transmitting the virus to humans. If it rains Wednesday, the spraying will be postponed to the same time Thursday.

West Nile virus is the leading mosquito-borne disease in the nation, county health officials said. It spreads to people through mosquito bites.

Cases of the virus occur during mosquito season, which spans from spring through fall.

The last reported case of West Nile virus infecting a person in Allegheny County happened in September, according to county health officials.

Most people who are infected with the virus do not feel sick. One in five people will develop a fever and other symptoms, which can include headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash.

Less than 1 percent of people infected develop serious illness, officials said.

There are no vaccines to prevent West Nile virus and no medications to treat it.

“Generally, the species of mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus are active from dusk to dawn,” health department Vector Control Specialist Nicholas Baldauf said in a statement. “To deter mosquito bites, we encourage people to use insect repellent on exposed skin or to wear long sleeves and pants. Both methods are effective at reducing or eliminating the possibility of getting a mosquito bite.”

Baldauf urged county residents to pay attention to potential mosquito breeding sites, like stagnant water that may sit in clogged gutters, unused swimming pools or buckets on their property. Mosquitoes can breed in half an inch of stagnant water, he said.

Residents can report mosquito breeding sites on private or public properties to the Allegheny County Health Department’s Housing and Community Environment Program by completing an online form or calling 412-350-4046.