Breaking news: Delaware County Health District warns of encephalitis risk

0

The Delaware General Health District has been informing residents in the Troy Township and Brown Township areas about the prevention of mosquito-borne disease after a resident was hospitalized with symptoms of La Crosse encephalitis.

District officials said they will be going door to door Friday, Sept. 25, informing those who live in the areas about the signs and symptoms of the mosquito-borne disease, along with ways to prevent mosquito breeding and bites.

Crews will also be assessing the areas where there is standing water and applying larvicide if needed.

On Friday, the district’s residential services unit will be fogging in the area north of Troutman Road, south of Radnor Road, east of Miller Road and west of Delaware State Park and in the area south of Leonardsburg Road, extending about one mile south of Brown Township Hall, east of the Delaware County dog shelter and west of Beard Road.

Weather permitting, fogging will begin around 9 p.m. from marked health district trucks. Residents should bring children and pets indoors while fogging is being conducted.

Any resident who does not want their property sprayed is asked to call the health district at 740-368-1700 and request to be placed on the no-fog list.

Updated fogging plans will be announced on DelawareHealth.org and on the health district’s Facebook page.

All residents are urged to protect themselves from mosquito bites, officials say.

The most effective prevention is to eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can breed. Make sure your property is free of stagnant water in flower pots, bird baths, tarps, gutters and other places where it can collect. Avoid going outdoors in the morning and the evening when mosquitoes are most active, they say. If you do go out, wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothing and apply mosquito repellent that contains DEET or Picaridin.

Staff Report

Information for this story was provided by the Delaware General Health District.

No posts to display