STATE COLLEGE — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Vector Management has reported to the Centre County Planning and Community Development Office that mosquito samples collected recently throughout the county have tested positive for the West Nile Virus.

Positive samples were collected at the following locations:

— College Township (2 samples)

— Harris Township (1 sample)

— Patton Township (1 sample)

— Spring Township (2 samples)

— State College Borough (2 samples)

Additional mosquito surveillance, sampling and larval control are being performed as necessary by the Centre County Mosquito Disease Control Program staff.

According to Mosquito Disease Control Program Coordinator Sara Conklin, performing a community-wide cleanup will help reduce most mosquito concerns. Residents are urged to contact their local municipality to help promote cleaning up to reduce mosquito concerns and disease risk. Stormwater management systems can sometimes contribute to mosquito issues and are routinely monitored by the Centre County Mosquito Disease Control Program staff.

Mosquito surveillance indicates that the most common mosquito species in residential areas come from artificial containers left behind by humans. Artificial containers can be something small, like a flower vase, to sometimes as large as a swimming pool. Additional containers such as tires, buckets, child toys and tarps are preferred by mosquitoes because other predators found in nature, which would prey on mosquito larvae, are not present. During periods of drought, these containers continue to hold water and produce mosquitoes. One bucket or tire in someone’s backyard can produce hundreds to thousands of mosquitoes in a year.

In the months of May through October, mosquitoes can complete their life cycle within five to seven days. Residents should use repellents when spending time outside. As a last resort, residents can purchase insecticides from garden centers and hardware stores to spray in their yard but need to be sure to follow the label instructions.

Centre County residents may report mosquito concerns through the Pennsylvania West Nile Virus website: www.westnile.state.pa.us or by contacting the Centre County Mosquito Disease Control Program at 814-404-4012, sconklin@centrecountypa.gov, or 814-355-6791.