The West Nile virus has been detected in Schuylkill County.
The virus was detected in mosquitoes July 19 in Minersville, according to the state’s West Nile virus website, PA West Nile Virus Control Program.
Last year, the virus was found in the county Aug. 7 in Pine Grove Township and was detected in Pine Grove Borough.
To date, the virus has been found in 24 counties in the state. Of those, there has been one human case of the virus found in Indiana County in July. Twenty-two of those counties have mosquitoes that have tested positive for the virus. Two of the counties have dead birds that have tested positive with the virus.
Overall, there have been 116 positive cases of the virus.
West Nile virus is mostly spread by mosquitoes but also through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breast feeding and during pregnancy, according to a fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus causes flu-like symptoms and can result in encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain. Symptoms can show three to 14 days after being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus.
A total of 16,410 mosquito samples have been collected statewide. Of that number, 4,277 have been tested and 113 have tested positive.
The highest county with the most positive cases of the virus is Delaware with 18. It had 1,091 mosquito samples collected and 327 tested; Montgomery has the second highest with 14 of the 797 samples collected and 264 tested; Allegheny was third with 12 cases and 381 samples collected and 143 tested. Berks County had three total positives with 1,270 samples collected and 168 tested. Schuylkill County had one confirmed case with 118 samples collected and 82 tested.
The virus was first detected in the state this year in Altoona, Blair County. Last year, it was found in Springettsbury, York County. Fifty-six out of 67 counties had tested positive for the virus last year. One person died in Erie County last year after being diagnosed with the virus.
The county is classified as having a low risk for the virus, according to the state. The state updates its website as information becomes available.
No cases of the West Nile virus were found in the United States before 1999. It was first detected in the state in 2000. It is named after where it first appeared in 1937.
West Nile virus found in Schuylkill County - News - Republican Herald
The virus was detected in mosquitoes July 19 in Minersville, according to the state’s West Nile virus website, PA West Nile Virus Control Program.
Last year, the virus was found in the county Aug. 7 in Pine Grove Township and was detected in Pine Grove Borough.
To date, the virus has been found in 24 counties in the state. Of those, there has been one human case of the virus found in Indiana County in July. Twenty-two of those counties have mosquitoes that have tested positive for the virus. Two of the counties have dead birds that have tested positive with the virus.
Overall, there have been 116 positive cases of the virus.
West Nile virus is mostly spread by mosquitoes but also through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breast feeding and during pregnancy, according to a fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus causes flu-like symptoms and can result in encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain. Symptoms can show three to 14 days after being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus.
A total of 16,410 mosquito samples have been collected statewide. Of that number, 4,277 have been tested and 113 have tested positive.
The highest county with the most positive cases of the virus is Delaware with 18. It had 1,091 mosquito samples collected and 327 tested; Montgomery has the second highest with 14 of the 797 samples collected and 264 tested; Allegheny was third with 12 cases and 381 samples collected and 143 tested. Berks County had three total positives with 1,270 samples collected and 168 tested. Schuylkill County had one confirmed case with 118 samples collected and 82 tested.
The virus was first detected in the state this year in Altoona, Blair County. Last year, it was found in Springettsbury, York County. Fifty-six out of 67 counties had tested positive for the virus last year. One person died in Erie County last year after being diagnosed with the virus.
The county is classified as having a low risk for the virus, according to the state. The state updates its website as information becomes available.
No cases of the West Nile virus were found in the United States before 1999. It was first detected in the state in 2000. It is named after where it first appeared in 1937.
West Nile virus found in Schuylkill County - News - Republican Herald
