September 30, 2022
Prime tick and mosquito season is winding down, but Pennsylvania Department of Health officials say there’s still cause for concern.
This week, state health officials are reminding Pennsylvanians to protect themselves against tick-borne illnesses and mosquitoes as they are still a threat as the weather turns cooler.
"Autumn is a wonderful season to spend time outdoors and participate in many activities, such as hiking and observing the fall foliage, but we want to make sure people protect themselves when they are outside," said Dr. Denise Johnson, acting secretary of health and physician general.
The state offered the following best practices to avoid tick-borne illness and mosquito bites:
In Pennsylvania, there have been 14 human West Nile virus (WNV) cases including two deaths, one each in Philadelphia and Franklin County. The mosquitoes that transmit WNV are most active at dawn and dusk.
State officials said they will continue mosquito surveillance until the first frost of fall occurs. Tick surveillance will continue throughout the fall and winter on warm days above 40 degrees.
"Simple, commonsense actions can prevent mosquito and tick bites and can prevent the spread of diseases like West Nile virus and Lyme disease," Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh said.
HAP joins organizations throughout the state urging Pennsylvanians to take precautions against tick-borne illnesses and mosquitoes this fall.
Additional information on ticks and mosquitoes is available online.
Tags: Public Health
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