Allegheny County Health Department announced Monday that mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile virus in six Pittsburgh neighborhoods: Brighton Heights, California-Kirkbride, Elliott, Sheraden, Esplen and Marshall-Shadeland.
This is an expansion of the locations with West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes year to date, which for 2024 includes numerous city neighborhoods, said Nicholas Baldauf, vector control specialist for the health department, including Allegheny Center, Beltzhoover/Knoxville, Fineview, Garfield, Homewood, Highland Park, McKees Rocks, Mount Oliver, Perry North, Point Breeze and Troy Hill, as well as in Baldwin and Wilkinsburg.
“This is pretty typical for what we see in a normal year,” said Mr. Baldauf. “But we are three weeks ahead of schedule. Possibly due to the mild winter, everything’s a bit accelerated. We’re prepared to treat into late September.”
The Health Department will spray insecticide throughout the six newly named neighborhoods between 8 and 11 p.m. on Wednesday; in the event of rain, the spraying moves to Thursday.
The insecticide, Zenivex E20, can help reduce the population of mosquitoes and thus the spread of the virus and is nontoxic to humans and pets, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, but should not be directly exposed to the eyes or skin.
“When we do these sprays, we’re trying to figure out where the risk for human transmission is the greatest,” said Mr. Baldauf. “Zenivex is actually the safest stuff on the market and is classified as a low-risk insecticide.”
Mosquitoes in the area first tested positive for West Nile virus on May 21. Infected mosquitoes can spread the virus to humans by biting them. There has not been a human case of the virus since September 2023: an 80-year-old woman, who died a few weeks later. There is no vaccine for West Nile virus.
Mr. Baldauf encouraged residents to use insect repellant if wanting to be outside during the evening, as the mosquitoes who carry West Nile virus prefer the nighttime and are a different species than the daytime mosquitoes.
“They actually prefer birds, but sometimes they will bite humans,” he said. “If you want to sit outside, sitting in front of a fan can also keep them away from you.”
Residents can help reduce the mosquito population by getting rid of standing water or treating the water with larvicide, which can be purchased online, at hardware stores or stores like Walmart. Residents can also file complaints about stagnant water — especially the mosquitoes’ favored breeding grounds of unmaintained swimming pools and standing water in tires — through Allegheny County’s website or by calling 412-350-4046.
Hanna Webster: hwebster@post-gazette.com.
First Published: July 15, 2024, 8:51 p.m.
Updated: July 15, 2024, 8:54 p.m.