Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile In Doylestown

Mosquitoes in Doylestown Township tested positive for West Nile Virus in the most recent sampling, state officials said Friday.

The testing is done as part of routine surveillance for the virus. Mosquitoes are trapped around the county in breeding areas and are tested daily to determine if they are infected.

Doylestown Township is among several Bucks County communities that have been dealing with infected mosquitoes this summer. A spray was held Thursday in parts of Penndel and Middletown Township. Other municipalities that have mosquitoes test positive for the virus include Warminster, Bensalem, Falls, Lower Makefield, and others.

According to the CDC, about one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About one out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness. You can reduce your risk of West Nile Virus by using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent mosquito bites, the CDC said.

West Nile virus appeared for the first time in Pennsylvania in birds, mosquitoes and a horse in 2000. It can cause febrile illness, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord), according to the CDC.

Click here for some tips on how to protect yourself from becoming infected.

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