West Nile Virus.
No human cases have been reported in the borough
A mosquito sample from Heritage Park Basin in Hatfield Borough has tested positive for West Nile Virus, the Montgomery County Office of Public Health announced Thursday.
The sample was collected as part of routine monitoring conducted by the county and state Departments of Environmental Protection.
No human cases have been reported in Hatfield Borough, as of Thursday. However, the positive sample indicates presence of the virus in the local mosquito population, according to the MCOPH.
As a precaution, Hatfield Borough and Montgomery County Office of Public Health will conduct enhanced mosquito surveillance in and around the basin and offer public education and outreach on prevention.
If conditions warrant, the county may target adult mosquito spraying in the area to reduce the ridsk of human transmission, according to the MCOPH.
Residents are urged to take the following precautions to reduce mosquito exposure and bredding:
Dump standing water from containers
Use insect repellent
Wear long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk, when most mosquitoes are active
Make sure window and door screens are intact to keep mosquitoes out of the house
West Nile Virus is transmitted via an infected bite, with symptoms being non-prevalent, according to the MCOPH. However, in some cases, WNV can lead to serious illness, especially in older adults and those with compromised immune systems.
