Franklin County Commissioners are reminding residents that the county’s annual mosquito surveillance and control efforts will begin April 1 and continue through late September.
The work will take place in high-population areas where there is an increased likelihood of people being bitten by an infected mosquito.
Jason Goetz, mosquito and tick-borne disease control specialist with the Franklin County Planning Department, and other staff will survey mosquitoes in both adult and larvae forms before determining the best method of control.
Adult mosquitoes, which prefer tree lines and dense vegetation near stagnant water, will be trapped, counted, identified by species and sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in Harrisburg for West Nile Virus testing.
Staff will also collect dip samples from stagnant bodies of water to identify mosquito larvae breeding areas and determine the best treatment to eliminate the larval source.
During the surveillance period, residents may see staff using backpack sprayers or truck-mounted sprayers to apply larvicides and adulticides. Staff will also place traps in predominantly public areas.
County officials said all traps are clearly labeled, and truck-mounted sprays are announced publicly at least 24 hours in advance on the Franklin County website, social media channels and local news outlets.
In addition to mosquito surveillance, staff will also monitor ticks in public-use areas to evaluate species, quantities and the presence of certain diseases. Ticks are collected and tested for pathogens including Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease.
County officials noted that Pennsylvania leads the nation in Lyme disease cases each year.
Unlike mosquitoes, there are no effective large-scale spraying methods to control ticks. Residents are encouraged to apply insect repellent before entering tick habitat and to check themselves thoroughly for ticks afterward.
More information about mosquito and tick surveillance and control is available at franklincountypa.gov/mosquito-tick-borne-disease-program. Goetz can also be reached at 717-261-3855 or jgoetz@franklincountypa.gov.
Photo credits to Franklin County, PA
