Please be aware that three mosquitoes in the East End of Pittsburgh have tested positive for West Nile Virus, thus the Health Department will be treating catch basins with pesticides that inhibit mosquito breeding (but are non-toxic to humans and pets.) Treated basins are marked with green chalk. Please see the full press release from the Health Dept for additional information. *Emily Keebler **· Office of Patrick Dowd · Pittsburgh City Council District 7* *510 City-County Building · 414 Grant Street · Pittsburgh PA 15219 · 412 255 2140* *emily.keebler@pittsburghpa.gov <emily.keebler@city.pittsburgh.pa.us> · www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/district7* ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Cummings, Diane <DCummings@achd.net> Date: Fri, Jun 8, 2012 at 9:16 AM Subject: HEALTH DEPT. TREATING CATCH BASINS TO COMBAT MOSQUITO BREEDING To: COUNTY OF [image: Description: newltrhdTop] Rich Fitzgerald County Executive ALLEGHENY ** ** *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: *Guillermo Cole**** Friday, June 8, 2012 Public Information Officer**** 412-578-8004; gcole@achd.net** * * HEALTH DEPT. TREATING CATCH BASINS TO COMBAT MOSQUITO BREEDING**** *Curbing Mosquito Population Cuts Risk of West Nile Virus*** **** Starting on Monday, June 11, the Allegheny County Health Department will treat storm water catch basins in selected areas of Pittsburgh with pesticides to combat the breeding of mosquitoes that can carry the West Nile virus. **** ** ** West Nile has already been detected in the County this year. Four mosquito samples collected last month have tested positive, three in Pittsburgh’s East End and one in Penn Hills. These are the County’s earliest positive samples of the season since mosquito trapping and testing began over ten years ago. **** ** ** “Any catch basin that holds water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes during the heat of summer and treatment with pesticides can keep mosquito larvae from emerging into full-fledged adults capable of spreading disease to humans,” said Interim Health Director Dr. Ronald E. Voorhees. **** ** ** The pesticides, which are non-toxic to people, pets and aquatic life, inhibit mosquito breeding and are deposited manually in catch basins. Treated basins are marked with a bright green chalk. **** ** ** Health Department staff will treat about 10,000 catch basins in certain areas of Pittsburgh, including eastern and western wards as well as wards on the North Side and South Side, which have a history in previous years of West Nile activity. **** ** ** The treatments will continue daily until all the catch basins are treated and will take place weekdays from 4 to 9 p.m., but may be postponed when heavy rains are forecast. **** ** ** Health officials say residents can also help reduce the mosquito population by eliminating and treating breeding sites on their own private property. Inexpensive but effective pesticides similar to what the Health Department uses are available at hardware stores and home improvement centers. **** ** ** # # #**** ** ** *NOTE TO EDITORS: REPORTERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE WELCOME TO TAG ALONG WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF TREATING CATCH BASINS. PLEASE CALL THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE AT 412-578-8004 TO SCHEDULE A TAG-ALONG AND PHOTO-OP. * ** **** ** Ronald E. Voorhees, MD, MPH, Interim Director**** Health Department**** Public Information Office**** 3333 Forbes Avenue • Pittsburgh, PA 15213**** Phone (412) 578-8004 • Fax (412) 578-8325 • www.achd.net