Professor of Biology Discusses West Nile Dangers
By: Laura Hartog and Dawn Pellas
Updated: October 1, 2012
IUP Professor of Biology Thomas Simmons stops by the Central PA Live studio to talk about the increase in West Nile Virus cases in Pennsylvania and across the country. He also shows some examples of mosquito traps, used in PA.
Watch this video for a closer look at the mosquito traps.
Here's some additional information on mosquitoes:
A mosquito pool is defined as at least one insect testing positive for the virus out of a test batch of up to 100 mosquitoes per trap.
Pennsylvania has conducted testing of mosquitoes for the virus since 2000. The worst year for human deaths from the virus was 2003, when nine people died out of 236 reported cases.
Thomas W. Simmons, Ph.D. has been part of state efforts to trap mosquitoes for study since 2005, and is currently studying water mite parasitism of mosquitoes in collaboration with the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The disease is spread from the bite from a common female mosquito drawing blood from humans.
Additional Information on Dr. Thomas Simmons:
Thomas W. Simmons, Ph.D. is a Professor of Biology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Watch his video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFcHhVKQCQs
Watch this video for a closer look at the mosquito traps.
Here's some additional information on mosquitoes:
A mosquito pool is defined as at least one insect testing positive for the virus out of a test batch of up to 100 mosquitoes per trap.
Pennsylvania has conducted testing of mosquitoes for the virus since 2000. The worst year for human deaths from the virus was 2003, when nine people died out of 236 reported cases.
Thomas W. Simmons, Ph.D. has been part of state efforts to trap mosquitoes for study since 2005, and is currently studying water mite parasitism of mosquitoes in collaboration with the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The disease is spread from the bite from a common female mosquito drawing blood from humans.
Additional Information on Dr. Thomas Simmons:
Thomas W. Simmons, Ph.D. is a Professor of Biology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Watch his video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFcHhVKQCQs
