Although the bite of a blackfly is usually nothing more than a mild annoyance to most of us, they do cause severe reactions in people who are allergic to them.
According to a news letter from State Rep. Justin Simmons, the DEP will spray vectobac all along the Lehigh River today. So if you see a low-flying helicopter, don't shoot it down. It's not the UN.
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Never mind the black flies. How about reporting on the mosquitoes in NC? From The Department of Health's West Nile website:
Seventeen Mosquito Samples Test Positive for West Nile Virus on August 3
The following is a list of the new mosquito positives for August 3:
Mosquito Positives - (17)
• Northampton - Bethlehem City
• Adams - Cumberland Twp
• Berks - Amity Twp
• Berks - Womelsdorf Boro
• Chester - West Sadsbury Twp
• Cumberland - Silver Spring Twp
• Fayette - North Union Twp
• Lackawanna - Elmhurst Twp
• Lancaster - Lancaster City (2)
• Lancaster - Mount Joy Boro (2)
• Luzerne - Kingston Twp
• Adams - Berwick Twp
• Philadelphia - Philadelphia City (3)
These are the first positives for Lackawanna and Northampton, and the first in Fayette since 2005. DEP and county WNV staff are responding with surveillance and control as necessary.
st nile virus?
the real reason that they are spraying is musicfest
I didn't think of that, but what a coincidence. They will spray along the Lehigh just one day before Musikfest starts.
Vectobac goes great with coffee.
it is ni coincidence bernie. parks deemed it so
bethlum dems attract flies
With the $$ that Musikfest brings into the city, I sure hope they're spraying because of it.
Considering the bilge that Musikfest attracts, they should spray for flies DURING the festival.
The timing of the latest treatment and Musikfest was coincidence. The Lehigh between Allentown area and Easton has been treated about four times this summer. Last week was the final week for treatment operations on the Delaware, Lehigh, and Schuylkill Rivers. Musikfest would be a good example of a major outdoor event that benefits from this work, though. The little league world series in Williamsport is another beneficiary. Tourism brings in a lot of money to the state.
I see nothing wrong or inappropriate about spraying for black flies in advance of Musikfest, even if there is no coincidence. It is a huge event in which many people are gathered outdoors for long periods in close proximity to the Lehigh River. It would seem to me to be in the public interest, and Musikfest is a nonprofit.
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