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West Nile virus is appearing at a record-setting pace in Lehigh Valley, elsewhere

West Nile virus is appearing at a record-setting pace in Lehigh Valley, elsewhere Real-Time News West Nile virus is appearing a...

West Nile virus is appearing at a record-setting pace in Lehigh Valley, elsewhere

Real-Time News

West Nile virus is appearing at a record-setting pace in Lehigh Valley, elsewhere $$tn08xxmosquitoes_4047(3).JPG

Types of mosquitoes are identified in a lab.

By Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com

As of July 13, there were 15 mosquito samples that tested positive for West Nile virus across Lehigh, Northampton and Warren counties.

Exactly one month later, there are more than eight times as many â€" at least 122 West Nile-positive samples have been recorded in our three-county area as of Aug. 13.

“We’re on the road to beat the record this year,” said said Jennifer Gruener, superintendent of the Warren County Mosquito Commission. That record â€" 31 infected mosquito samples identified by the end of October â€" was set last year. This year, the county is already at 26.

The unusually high pace is seen across Pennsylvania as well, said Jeffrey Carroll, with the Penn State Extension’s local office. The state’s record is 4,300 positive mosquito cases in 2012, he said. At this point that year, 1,105 cases had been recorded â€" so far in 2018, 2,621 have been identified.

Forty-four of Pennsylvania̢۪s 67 counties, including Lehigh and Northampton, have been designated high-risk by Pennsylvania̢۪s West Nile Virus Control Program. Municipalities have been spraying or plan to spray for mosquitos to limit the potential for human exposure.

“Everybody’s out there trying to at least mitigate the problem as best they can,” Carroll said.

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Vials of blood are prepared for West Nile screening.

What is West Nile virus?

West Nile is a virus found in birds but spread by mosquito bites. It was first detected in North America in 1999. It can cause encephalitis, a brain inflammation.

New Jersey̢۪s first human case of West Nile disease for 2018 was recorded between July 29 and Aug. 4 in Hunterdon County, and two more reports are under investigation, according to the state health department. One human case has also been recorded in Pennsylvania, in the Pittsburgh area. There have been at least 106 human infections recorded nationwide, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control.

As of Aug. 7, 40 states and the District of Columbia have reported West Nile virus infec tions in people, birds or mosquitos, the CDC says.

Here̢۪s how that breaks down locally, as of Aug. 13.

Mosquitoes of Alabama
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

West Nile virus has been found at least 38 mosquito samples in nine municipalities between June 26 and Aug. 7, according to Pennsylvania̢۪s West Nile Virus Control Program.

Below are the number of positive samples found in each municipality so far.

  • Bethlehem City: 14
  • Easton: 9
  • Wilson Borough: 6
  • Upper Nazareth Twp.: 3
  • Hanover Twp.: 2
  • Bath: 1
  • East Allen Twp.: 1
  • Lehigh Twp.: 1
  • Palmer Twp.: 1

LEHIGH COUNTY

West Nile virus has been found in 58 mosquito samples in nine municipalities between June 14 and Aug. 7, according to Pennsylvania̢۪s West Nile Virus Control Program.

Below are the affected municipalities and number of positive samples found so far in each.

  • Allentown: 26
  • South Whitehall Twp.: 15
  • Upper Macungie Twp.: 4
  • Hanover Twp.: 3
  • Lower Macungie Twp.: 3
  • Bethlehem City: 2
  • Upper Saucon Twp.: 2
  • Whitehall Twp.: 2
  • North Whitehall Twp.: 1

WARREN COUNTY

West Nile virus has been found in 26 mosquito samples in 11 municipalities, according to the Warren County Mosquito Commission. The dates of te sting are not published on the commission̢۪s website.

Below are the number of positive samples found in each municipality so far.

  • Franklin Twp.: 4
  • Harmony Twp.: 4
  • Phillipsburg: 4
  • Hackettstown: 3
  • Oxford Twp.: 3
  • Belvidere: 2
  • Washington Twp.: 2
  • Greenwich Twp.: 1
  • Lopatcong Twp.: 1
  • Washington Borough: 1
  • White Twp.: 1
Source: Google News US Health | Netizen 24 United States

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