Area of Fairmount Park Closed During Mosquito Spraying

You won't be able to get to some sections of Fairmount Park on Monday while the city applies a dose of bug spray.
KYW's Mike DeNardo reports that city crews were scheduled to spray for mosquitoes on Monday at dusk in the area between Belmont Avenue, Parkside Avenue, and North George's Hill Drive, weather permitting. That area of Fairmount Park is closed to the public during the spray, which will be administered by truck.

The health department says the insecticide mist kills mosquitoes on contact, but does not affect humans. Health officials say it's important to control mosquitoes because they can carry the West Nile virus.

While there haven't been any confirmed human cases in Pennsylvania this year, the virus has been detected in three mosquito samples in Philadelphia, and 34 statewide. Health officials say the virus is showing up earlier and in larger numbers than it did last year.

(file photo)