Published Thursday, August 15, 2002
Herald Staff Writer
West Nile virus has officially arrived in Mercer County.
A dead crow found in Hempfield Township tested positive for the virus Wednesday, said Jessica Seiders, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
"Basically, it's traveled all the way to Western Pennsylvania, so it's here to stay," Ms. Seiders said. "The best way people can take care of it is prevention, to keep out of areas that have (a large amount) of mosquitoes."
Two more birds have tested positive for the virus in Lawrence County, which brings the total to four, Ms. Seiders said. A dead crow found in New Wilmington, which borders Mercer County, and a dead blue jay found in Union Township tested positive for the virus Tuesday, Ms. Seiders said.
Two birds found in New Castle and Neshannock Township tested positive for the virus last week, she said.
This is the first year the virus has been found in both Lawrence and Mercer counties, Ms. Seiders said, adding that it has also been found in Washington, Westmoreland and Center counties this year. Last year the only counties in Western Pennsylvania that had the virus were Erie, Fayette and Center, she said.
"Only one out of 150 people (who are diagnosed with the virus) have severe symptoms," she said, adding that people can go to their physician to test if they have been exposed to the virus. Once a person has been exposed, they become immune.
Ms. Seiders noted people can be put on an e-mail alert from the state Department of Health everytime a new positive for the virus in any state county is discovered.
For more information or to report a dead bird, call (877) PA HEALTH; to get on the e-mail alert, go to www.westnile.state.pa.us and click on news.