Aug. 31--The Department of Health on Tuesday reported Pennsylvania's first probable human case of West Nile virus for 2011 at a time when the season is peaking in south central Pennsylvania.
An elderly Lebanon County woman was hospitalized July 22 with a high fever and neurological symptoms, according to the Health Department. She is recovering.
Last year the state had 28 cases of the virus confirmed in humans.
The state reported on Tuesday the presence of the virus in three areas of Franklin County -- Lurgan, Antrim and Hamilton townships. Samples of trapped adult mosquitos tested positive for the virus. The traps caught few mosquitos.
"The high winds and rain have knocked down the adults," Eckhart said. "I fully expect the numbers to go up in the next two weeks. The risk of getting bitten by a mosquito is less while the risk that a mosquito is carrying the virus is higher compared to previous years."
The rains have created more mosquito breeding habitat.
Samples of mosquitos earlier this season tested positive in Mercersburg and Greencastle and the townships of Greene, Guilford, Quincy and Washington.
All residents of areas where virus activity has been identified are at risk of getting West Nile, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Certain species of mosquito carry the virus, which, when transmitted to people, can cause West Nile encephalitis, an infection that can result in an inflammation of the brain.
West
Nile is spread to people and animals by infected mosquitoes, according to the Health Department. Usually, the infection does not result in any illness. However, older adults and persons with compromised immune systems are at an increased risk of becoming ill from a West Nile infection.
A severe West Nile infection can cause encephalitis. People with encephalitis may experience high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and coma. Anyone with any of these symptoms should immediately contact their health care provider.
A milder form of infection is known as West Nile fever. In addition to fever, people with this milder form of the disease may also experience headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands.
West Nile virus activity has been detected this season in 54 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. The season peaks through mid-September and ends at first frost. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the state is seeing record mosquito viral activity.
Residents are urged to use mosquito repellent outdoors and to empty outdoor items that can collect water.
For information about repellents, visit http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/free pubs/pdfs/uo211.pdf.
For more information on West Nile virus, visit http://www.westnile.state.p a.us.
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Jim Hook can be reached at 262-4759 and jhook@publicopinionnews.com.
Since being identified in 2000 in Pennsylvania, West Nile virus has returned every summer.
Here's a count of human cases:
28 with no deaths in 2010.
No human cases in 2009.
14 with one death in 2008.
10 with no deaths in 2007.
Nine with two deaths in 2006.
25 with two deaths in 2005.
15 with two deaths in 2004.
237 with nine deaths in 2003
62 with nine deaths in 2002.
Three with no deaths in 2001.
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