Horsham Mosquito Spraying Set For Thursday Night

You may want to stay inside Thursday evening.

The Department of Environmental Protection will be spraying Thursday evening to control the mosquito population in portions of Horsham Township.

Workers will be using Duet Dual-Action Adulticide at a rate of 0.75 fluid ounces per acre applied with a truck mounted Ultra Low Volume (ULV) sprayer. The sprays have a “very low toxicity profile to mammals and are safe for the environment,” according to a press release from the Pennsylvania West Nile Control Program.

The spraying is weather permitting and Friday is the alternate date.

Mosquitos testing positive for West Nile virus have been found at Cedar Hill Road Park, Whetstone Road and Lukens Park.  

Humans can contract West Nile encephalitis, an infection that can result in an inflammation of the brain from infected mosquitoes. Do far this summer, there have been three human cases of West Nile in Pennsylvania, including one this month on Montgomery County.

In rare instances, humans afflicted with the West Nile Virus have died.  

Steps you can take around your home to help prevent the breeding of mosquitoes:

•  The best defense is to eliminate sources of standing water in your yard where mosquitoes may lay eggs. Fill, cover or remove any items that can trap water.

• Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that have collected on your property.

• Pay special attention to discarded tires.

• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers left outdoors.

• Have clogged roof gutters cleaned every year, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug up the 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 not in use.