The New Philadelphia Health Department has been trapping throughout the summer for the Culex species of mosquito and was notified Tuesday that two pools of mosquitoes collected within city limits had tested positive for West Nile Virus (Submitted photo).

New Philadelphia, Ohio - Two pools of mosquitoes collected within the New Philadelphia city limits have tested positive for West Nile Virus.

The New Philadelphia Health Department has been conducting trapping within city limits for the Culex species of mosquito throughout the summer and was notified Tuesday that two recently set traps had tested positive for West Nile.

Lee Finley is the Director of Environmental Health for the New Philadelphia Health Department. He says the West Nile positive traps were located in a cul-de-sac at the end of Commercial Avenue SW and along a city-owned access lane near Hillandale Road NE and the Oak Shadows garage.  

The health department will be responding to the positive results according to guidelines from the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and will be spraying on multiple occasions near the area where the infected mosquitoes were collected.  

The initial spraying will be conducted Wednesday evening within the city limits and in adjacent areas of Goshen Township. A second spraying will occur the week of August 20-24. 

Areas of the city targeted for spraying include the Oak Shadows development and the Donahey Drive addition and the area between Commercial and West High avenues. Larviciding will also be conducted in Goshen Township. 

Spraying will be conducted after dusk. Residents with respiratory issues are encouraged to remain indoors while spraying is being conducted. 

To reduce their risk of exposure to the virus, residents are being encouraged to avoid mosquito bites by using mosquito repellent and wearing pants and long-sleeve shirts before going outdoors between dusk and dawn and by repairing or installing screens on open windows and doors. In addition, the health department is also encouraging residents to be proactive by removing any standing water on their property.

New Philadelphia Health Commissioner Vickie Ionno says most individuals who have been exposed to the virus will have no symptoms or experience mild flu-like symptoms, however, the disease can be fatal, especially for older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems. 

“It depends on the person’s health, if they’re elderly or they have health issues. It’s possible to be fatal. It’s serious, so that’s why we trap,” she says.

At this time, no individuals are known to have contracted the virus in Tuscarawas County.

The New Philadelphia Health Department can be reached by calling 330-364-4491 ext. 1208. 

Stacey Carmany, Tusco TV