Set for Today, July 25, 8:30 to 11 p.m., Weather Permitting
The Allegheny County Health Department has re-scheduled mosquito spraying in areas of Pittsburgh’s West End for today, July 25, from 8:30 to 11 p.m., weather permitting. The spaying was originally scheduled last Thursday but postponed due to inclement weather.
The areas were selected for spraying based on having multiple mosquito samples test positive for West Nile virus over several weeks. The neighborhoods are in Pittsburgh’s 28th ward and include the Herschel Field area, Zahniser Street and the Middletown Road area of Windgap.
The Department will be using a new mosquito pesticide known as Zenivex which contains no piperonyl butoxide. It kills adult mosquitoes, but is otherwise very safe and harmless to people and pets. It will be released from a truck-mounted, ultra-low volume sprayer at a rate of just one to three ounces per acre. Storm water catch basins in these neighborhoods have already been treated to stop the breeding of mosquitoes in standing water.
Health officials urge the public to protect themselves from mosquitoes by getting rid of standing water in yards and neighborhoods, using insect repellent on exposed skin and minimizing time spent outdoors during daylight hours – especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
Thirty-two mosquito samples in the County have tested positive for West Nile since mid-May, but no human cases have been reported so far this year.
