West Nile Virus Found in Upper Saucon Mosquito
State says a mosquito found in Upper Saucon Township tested positive for West Nile Virus.
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A mosquito found in Upper Saucon Township has tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to a June 19 report from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
DEP and county West Nile Virus staff respond to these reports with additional mosquito surveillance and control, according to a DEP news release.
West Nile Virus, which is carried by mosquitoes, can cause encephalitis --inflammation of the brain. West Nile was first found in North America in 1999 in New York and in Pennsylvania in 2000, DEP reported. Mosquitoes can pass on the disease to birds and other animals, as well as people.
A mild case of West Nile can manifest itself with flu-like symptons with a fever lasting a few days. The most serious cases cause West Nile encephalitis, West Nile meningitis or West Nile meningoencephalitis.
Linda Wimmer
5:13 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Can someone, from the Township, tell me why and what is the "pond" that was built across the street from the Center Vally Post Office to be used for? Couldn't this be a breeding grounds for the Mosquitoes?
Susan Koomar
5:26 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Linda, Patch will see if we can find out and post a story about it. Thanks for your question!
Carl
5:44 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
I asked Asst Manager Bob Kassel. Penndot had to destroy some wetlands along Route 378 up towards Saucon Valley Rd. Environmental law says they had to make a new wetlands. Thus they purchased the property and flooded it. There you go.........man made wetlands...too funny!! but true!
Susan Koomar
5:51 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Wow, interesting. Thanks for the info, Carl!
S
9:03 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Well, who is more stupid - UST, or PennDot ?! Within a mile of this new pond at the post office is the water treatment facility along Camp Meeting, the retention basin at Sunrise Valley, the pond on Camp Meeting, and now a new basin behind the intermediate school. No surprise - the place should be swarming with mosquitoes...
QED
10:03 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
The 'pond' across the street from the CV Post Office was built by the contractor that built the most recently built bridge on Main Street near Coopersburg. This was to be a replacement of wetlands lost at the Main Street bridge location. Upper Saucon Township has had nothing whatsaoever to do with this project. Penndot or the PADEP should be contacted in regard to issues and questions about the "pond."
QED
10:09 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Detention and retention ponds are designed according to well established engineering standards that are required by state and federal law. Upper Saucon Township merely requires that the state and federal laws are followed. Note that Lehigh county has an effective program to treat standing water with chemicals to eliminate mosquitos in locations with standing water and with access, such as detention ponds. Unfortunately, many private locations go untreated.