A mosquito trap at Encke Park in Wayne tested positive for West Nile Virus, Radnor Township announced Wednesday, prompting officials to urge residents near the popular park to take precautions against mosquito bites.
The Delaware County Health Department's Mosquito Borne Disease Control Program notified the township of the positive result, according to Patch and the township's official X account. The trap is one of several Radnor maintains to monitor mosquito-borne illness.
No human cases have been reported in Eastern Pennsylvania in 2026, according to CDC data.
The township said the positive result does not indicate a widespread public health risk but called it "an important reminder to take precautions against mosquito bites."
Not the first this season
The DCHD's Environmental Health Alerts page shows a separate WNV-positive mosquito sample logged in Radnor Township on July 24, five days before the Encke Park result. Haverford Township recorded a positive sample on July 10. The county's first detection of 2026 came June 25 in Collingdale Borough.
Delaware County Health Department Director Lora Siegmann Werner said in the county's June 25 announcement that residents can make a difference: "Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out any items that hold water like buckets, planters, toys, or trash containers."
What residents should do
Encke Park sits at 305 Iven Ave., adjacent to the Radnor Township Municipal Building and Cappelli Driving Range. Ithan Valley Creek runs through the property, and the park includes a pond, both potential mosquito breeding habitat.
Radnor's Parks Maintenance Division said it will continue removing standing water and managing mosquito habitat in township parks. The township recommends residents:
- Drain standing water from flowerpots, buckets, and gutters weekly
- Empty birdbaths and children's toys that hold water for more than four days
- Wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes around dawn and dusk
- Apply EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin
What comes next
If surveillance shows a growing threat, DCHD may initiate truck-mounted mosquito spraying in consultation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Any spray events would be announced at least 48 hours in advance.
Residents can report standing water or mosquito concerns to the Delaware County Health Department Wellness Line at (484) 276-2100, available 24/7, or by email at [email protected]. DCHD posts updated detection results at delcopa.gov/health/environmental-health-alerts.
