County to spray for mosquitos in West Chester on Sept. 11

One of two areas planned for mosquito spraying next week. WEST CHESTER — Following the contractual guidelines/agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Chester County Health Department will conduct a mosquito control treatment spray in portions of West Chester Borough on Tuesday, Sept. 11 from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. The rain date for this event is Wednesday, Sept. 12 from...

DEP: Rains, flooding create high level of West Nile in PA’s mosquitos

HARRISBURG — Receding floodwaters and heavy rains across Pennsylvania are creating a perfect storm of conditions, that have contributed to the highest level of West Nile virus activity in the mosquito population since the disease was first introduced in 2000. The disease, which has infected more than 150 people in the past six years, is on track to pose an unusually higher than normal risk this year...

The Zika virus and Chester County

Getting rid of standing water is more effective than spraying By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times News has come around lately that “Pennsylvania Is Now One Of The Top States With Zika Virus ” (Phoenixville Patch, 8/23/16). Currently PA ranks 5th in the number of diagnosed Zika cases. Of course, no one knows how many undiagnosed cases there are anywhere. Quick quiz: how is Zika spread?...

Avoid spraying, prevent mosquito reproduction

If they can’t breed, you don’t need to worry about using pesticides By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times I recently noticed a newspaper article that is very misleading about the costs and benefits of spraying to control mosquitoes. The story was much too casual about the use of toxic chemicals in residential properties. It brought out that the insecticides known as pyrethroids, widely...