Pennsylvania takes aim at mosquitoes and West Nile Virus

• Scott LaMar
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  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

invasion of the mosquitoes

Airdate: July 27, 2022

“Fight the Bite” is a call to battle against mosquitoes in Pennsylvania (and nationally as well).

The state Department of Environmental Protection is encouraging Pennsylvanians to protect themselves against mosquito bites and possibly West Nile Virus that mosquitoes can carry.

There’s been one confirmed case of West Nile Virus so far this summer in the state. However, 48 people have died of West Nile Virus since 2000.

On Wednesday’s Smart Talk,  Jennifer Stough, Water Program Specialist for DEP’s Vector Management Program and Matt Helwig, an Aquatic Biologist Supervisor with DEP provided protection tips from mosquitoes that include:

• Eliminate standing, stagnant water near your home – bird baths, kiddie pools, and other outdoor decorations can be mosquito breeding grounds if the water sits for a few days.
• Keep gutters clean of debris.
• Wear insect repellent or long sleeves when mosquitoes are active, usually around dawn and dusk.
• Repair window screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.
• Clean up litter in your neighborhood. Just a single cap from a plastic bottle can be home to 300 mosquito eggs.

They also encouraged the use of insect repellents and wearing long pants and shirt sleeves near dusk when mosquitoes are most active.