Published Wednesday, August 14, 2002
Herald Staff Writer
So far, testing in Mercer County for West Nile virus has yielded no positive results, even though the dangerous virus has been found in Mahoning, Trumbull and Lawrence counties, according to Jim Mondok, manager of the Mercer County Conservation District, which coordinates virus testing in the county.
"We set traps for adult mosquitoes and we dip for mosquito larvae in stagnant pools across the county and send them to the state for testing," said Mondok, referring to the district's West Nile virus coordinator Adam McCullough.
Testing of collected mosquitoes has increased from five samples a week last year to 14 samples a week this year to increase the county's virus surveillance, Mondok said.
The most recent positive testing for West Nile virus occurred Wednesday in Lawrence County. It was identified in a dead blue jay found in Neshannock Township.
He also said there are more dead birds this year with eight collected since January. They collected eight during all of 2001.
"I wouldn't say we're getting lots and lots of calls, but we do get them," Mondok said. "We refer them to the state department of health. On some occasions we have picked up birds."
Some of the things they consider are where and what kind of bird is found dead and how long it's been dead.
"Blue jays and crows appear to be the most susceptible," Mondok said. "And it's different if a bird is found dead next to a road than if it's found in a back yard. In a backyard is a little more suspect. If a homeowner comes across a dead bird that didn't look like it died from hitting a window, that's when they might want to call."
Mondok said that testing could not be done on a bird that is dead for more than a week. "It has to be relatively fresh," he said.
He said the district, which was appointed the West Nile virus coordinator in 2000 by Mercer County commissioners, works with the state department of health through the Jackson Township office in the new industrial park off U.S. Route 62 near Interstate 79.
For information or questions, contact Adam McCullough at the Mercer County Conservation District at (724) 662-2242 or the state Department of Health at (877) PA HEALTH.