First Positive West Nile Test Of The Season In Pennsylvania

A mosquito tested positive for West Nile Virus for the first time this season in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said on Monday.

The test was recorded in Altoona in Blair County, which is located roughly between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh in the west-central part of the state.

Representatives with the West Nile Virus Control Program said that they would "respond with additional mosquito surveillance and control as needed." They did not note that they had planned any sprayings as of yet.

It's the first positive sample since September, 2015.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, West Nile is an "arbovirus" that may lead to febrile illness, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).

Several communities in the greater Philadelphia area were found to have mosquitos which tested positive for the virus. Chemical sprayings commenced in Phoenixville, Abington, and Horsham, among other areas.

West Nile was first confirmed in Pennsylvania in 2000 when it was found in a horse, mosquitoes, and birds.

There have been nearly 40,000 cases of West Nile in the United States since then, and 119 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

There has only been one cases of West Nile in a human reported in Pennsylvania in 2015, although many western states have had more positive tests.

Positive bird tests are much rarer than positive mosquito tests. The DEP urges all residents to report dead bird sightings.

Chester County health officials released tips in 2015 to help avoid mosquito bites and to prevent mosquito populations from increasing artificially:

• Stay indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitos are most active
• Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants when outside
• Use insect repellents when mosquitoes are active
• Dispose of open containers that may collect water, such as tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, etc.
• Drill holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers so that water will not collect
• Keep your property clear of old tires
• Clean roof gutters, particularly if leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug drains
• Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use
• Turn over wheelbarrows and don’t let water stagnate in birdbaths
• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools when not in use
• A swimming pool left untended by a family on vacation for a month can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood-wide complaints. Mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on pool covers
• For stagnant pools of water that cannot be removed or drained, homeowners can buy Bti products such as mosquito dunks at lawn/garden, outdoor supply, home improvement and other stores. This naturally occurring bacterial product kills mosquito larvae but is safe for people, pets, aquatic life and plants.