The City of Chester Would Like You To Know That You Will Not Die Of West Nile Virus There

Chester, Pennsylvania may be the second most dangerous place in the United States of America, but Mayor John Linder insists that you will not contract the dreaded West Nile virus there under his watch. Linder’s office sent out the following press release. Note that the West Nile testing in question was done under the direction of one of Chester’s City Council members, a personal injury lawyer, so you can go ahead and keep the family vacation to William Penn’s landing site on the calendar.

CHESTER CITY BUREAU OF HEALTH MOSQUITO TESTING FINDINGS

Hon. Mayor John Linder and City Council authorized Chester City Bureau of Health Commissioner Ieasa Nichols to coordinate West Nile Virus testing operations under the direction of Councilman William Jacobs, Department of Public Safety Director. Commissioner Nichols issues this statement from the Bureau:

“The City of Chester Bureau of Health has been working with officials from Penn State Cooperative to conduct testing throughout Chester for mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus, as a precautionary measure. To date, the City of Chester BOH has received no reported cases of West Nile Virus and no infected mosquitoes have been found within the Chester City boundaries. An extensive testing effort was conducted on Wednesday, August, 23rd, 2012, at which time mosquito samples were collected from high risk areas in the city and ALL found to be FREE of the West Nile Virus.

Residents should continue to take several precautions to avoid mosquito bites and the breeding of mosquitoes. Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants outdoors during these times or consider staying indoors during these hours.

Make certain that screens on windows and doors are in good working condition to keep mosquitoes outside of homes, schools, and businesses. Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so that water may drain out. Place children’s wading pools on their sides and keep them empty when not in use.

Symptoms of WNV include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis in serious cases. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.

Milder symptoms of WNV include fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and in some cases, swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks. Approximately 80 percent of people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with WNV will not present with any symptoms at all.

If you believe that you may be infected we ask that you seek immediate medical attention.”

None of the materials contained in this document or attached photographs therein may be altered or changed in any way without the expressed written consent of the Office of Mayor John Linder Communications Department.