6 Pittsburgh neighborhoods to be sprayed after positive West Nile Virus tests

PITTSBURGH — The Allegheny County Health Department will spray for mosquitoes in six neighborhoods on Wednesday following recent positive tests for West Nile Virus.

Crews will treat Hazelwood, Carrick, Mt. Oliver, Beltzhoover, Knoxville and Mt. Washington between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Crews will apply Zenivex E20 using a truck-mounted sprayer. The pesticide is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and is considered low risk to people, pets, pollinators and wildlife. In the event of rain, the spraying will be rescheduled for Thursday evening.

West Nile Virus is the leading mosquito-borne disease in the United States and spreads to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes. Cases typically occur during mosquito season, which runs from spring through fall. Most infected individuals do not feel sick, though about one in five develop a fever alongside symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash. Less than 1% of infected people develop severe illness and no vaccines or specific medications are available to treat the virus.

Nicholas Baldauf, a vector control specialist with the Allegheny County Health Department, noted that mosquitoes carrying the virus are primarily active at night.

“Generally, the species of mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus are active from dusk to dawn,” Baldauf said. “To deter mosquito bites, we encourage people to use insect repellent on exposed skin or to wear long sleeves and pants. Both methods are effective at reducing or eliminating the possibility of getting a mosquito bite.”

Baldauf also emphasized the role local residents play in controlling mosquito populations around their homes.

“Allegheny County residents play an important role when it comes to reducing the area’s mosquito population,” Baldauf said. “Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a half inch of stagnant water, so residents should pay close attention to potential breeding sites like stagnant water in tires, unused swimming pools, buckets, corrugated piping and clogged gutters.”

Residents who identify mosquito breeding areas on public or private property can report them to the health department’s Housing and Community Environment Program by calling 412-350-4046 or completing an online form.

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