With nine Pennsylvania counties having positive tests for West
Nile virus, residents need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of
the virus.

Jim Clark of the Penn State Cooperative Extension Office in
Smethport said Monday that McKean County has collected 339 samples
for testing, but only about 27 have been tested so far. He said out
of those tested, none have tested positive for the virus.

“We do not have a positive case in McKean County yet,” Clark
said. “We have the first person with West Nile virus in York
County.”

Last Wednesday, a 43-year-old male from York County was the
first person who tested positive for the virus. According to the
Pennsylvania West Nile Web site, nine counties -ðAdams, Clinton,
Dauphin, Erie, Franklin, Indiana, Lehigh, Westmoreland and York –
had either a human, birds or mosquito sample test positive for the
virus this year.

“West Nile Virus is endemic to the state,” Clark said.
“Everybody is at risk. It’s not easy to find (so) just because
someone gets bitten by a mosquito, they should not worry that
they’re going to get West Nile virus.”

People and animals become infected with the virus only after
being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Clark said that usually West Nile virus cases are more prominent
in August and September. He also said as the temperature rises the
mosquitoes’ life-cycle increases.

“In July, track numbers really start inclining,” Clark said. “We
start collecting (samples to test) in May, even April.”

Clark said those with immune deficiencies and the elderly are
most at risk since they don’t have the immune system to fight off
the virus.

While most people infected do not get sick, a small percentage
of those infected will experience a fever, rash, headache, body
aches, swollen lymph glands, meningitis (inflammation of the tissue
surrounding the brain), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain),
meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the brain and the membrane
surrounding it) or even death.

Symptoms of mild disease will generally last a few days.
Symptoms of severe disease may last several weeks, but the
neurological effects may be permanent. While there is no specific
treatment or vaccine for West Nile virus infection, most people
fully recover from it.

Clark said if someone believes they’ve contracted the virus, he
would direct them to a doctor.

For more information about West Nile virus symptoms in humans,
contact the state Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH or the
Penn State Cooperative Extension or visit the Pennsylvania West
Nile Web site.

Clark said county residents should report dead birds, which can
be an indicator for the virus, and large numbers of mosquitoes to
the Penn State Cooperative Extension office.

All 67 counties in Pennsylvania trap mosquitoes, collect dead
birds and monitor horses, people and sentinel chickens to combat
the spread of the virus. The departments of Health and Agriculture
perform laboratory testing to determine if the virus is present in
mosquitoes, animals and humans.

Clark said certain types of mosquitoes are known to carry the
virus, and they do treatments of large areas of those types of
mosquitoes.

“For instance, we recently treated the catch basins of
Bradford,” Clark said. “Mosquitoes can breed in a quarter-inch of
water. In the waterways, water will stand in those, and we have to
make sure mosquitoes aren’t breeding in those. We’ll also treat
anyplace else with a large amount of the right type of
mosquito.

“If you have serious mosquito problems, call the extension
office, and we’ll investigate it and set up some traps. We’re
always looking for places to test and set our traps, especially in
populated areas.”

Clark said dead birds are mailed in and tested. He said if the
bird was run over by a car or has maggots in it, they don’t want
it.

“(Dead) birds have to be fresh, and we mail the birds on Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday,” Clark said. “If we get it Thursday
afternoon or Friday, it’s not going to go because it’s going to get
caught in the mail. The bird has to be 24 hours dead. If you find
(dead) birds in your yard that are fairly fresh, call the extension
office. Whenever you handle a carcass, dead animal, you should wear
gloves and (have as) little as contact as possible.

“If people are worried about bird flu as well, a dead bird could
be dying from West Nile Virus. If it was bird flu, there would be a
lot of dead birds – not just one.”

Clark said to keep updated on any birds, mosquitoes or humans
who have tested positive in the county, one can visit the
Pennsylvania West Nile Web site.

West Nile virus was first detected in North America in 1999 in
New York and in Pennsylvania in 2000. Last year in Pennsylvania,
there were 25 cases of human West Nile virus and two deaths that
may have been related to the infections along with 266 mosquito
pools testing positive for the virus from many areas of the
state.

Jim Clark of the Penn State Cooperative Extension office said
the office does not have enough money or resources to help out
everyone in reducing mosquito breeding areas so he provided a few
tips on how residents can help prevent West Nile virus from
developing around their homes.

Clark said the best thing anyone can do is reduce standing
water, which should reduce a lot of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes lay
their eggs in stagnant water around the home and will develop in
any puddle that lasts for more than four days. Weeds, tall grass,
shrubbery and discarded tires also provide an outdoor home for
adult mosquitoes.

Clark said birdbaths need to be cleaned out every four days
along. Pool covers and rain gutters should also be cleaned out. He
suggested residents should get rid of old tires or drill holes in
them and avoid going outside during dusk and dawn when most
mosquitoes are active.

Wear shoes, socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when
outdoors for long periods of time, or when mosquitoes are most
active.

Clark suggested that anyone willing to purchase it can use a
naturally occurring bacteria known as Bti that kills mosquito
larvae. It can be used at home to apply to standing water such as
birdbaths. This bacteria kills only mosquito and black fly larvae
and is not harmful to people, pets, aquatic life or plants. Bti can
be purchased in many lawn and garden, outdoor supply and home
improvement stores.

Clark said some people use a layer of vegetable oil on top of
their rain barrels, which helps keep mosquitoes from breeding there
if they maintain the water level. He also suggested one should try
to make rain barrels tight to bugs.

Dispose of water-holding containers that have accumulated on
one’s property. Drill holes in the bottom of containers that are
left outdoors since holes on a container’s sides allow them to
collect enough water for mosquitoes to breed.

Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Clean and
chlorinate swimming pools that are not being used. Use landscaping
to eliminate standing water that collects on one’s property.

In addition to reducing stagnant water, the Pennsylvania West
Nile Web site offers a number of other ways to help prevent the
virus. Make sure all windows and doors have screens that are in
good condition.

If one is going to be outside, one should remember to use insect
repellent containing DEET. Electromagnetic and ultrasound devices
and Vitamin B are not effective in preventing mosquito bites.

Clark said people have called him, wondering if they should
worry about a mosquito breeding area such as the Eldred swamp if
they live two miles away. He said mosquitoes travel up to a
quarter-mile so people that live further away from a potential
breeding area than that should not have to worry about those
mosquitoes.