File photo
By Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com
At least two people in the Lehigh Valley area have contracted West Nile virus, which continues to spread throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The region's first human West Nile infection was confirmed this month in Warren County this month, where local officials announced the finding Monday. The state health department has not publicly identified the municipality.
The second was reported last week in the Breinigsville area of Lehigh County and publicly disclosed Tuesday by the local Penn State Extension office.
Mosquitoes carrying the virus have been found since June in many municipalities around our area, particularly in more developed areas, spurring official action and calls for residents to assist where possible.
Where has West Nile virus been found?
So far this year, mosquitoes have been found to be carrying the disease in at least 34 municipalities across Lehigh, Northampton and Warren counties — at least one county has already smashed its annual record, and there's still a month and a half of monitoring still to go.
(NOTE: The Pennsylvania portion of the map above uses data last updated Aug. 14 by the Pennsylvania West Nile Virus Control Program. More recent town-by-town data was not available as of Tuesday. Data for Warren County, however, is up to date.)
In Warren County ...
The county has so far in 2018 recorded 61 positive mosquito samples — the annual average is between 8 and 9, according to the Warren County Mosquito Commission. The previous record of 31 positive samples was set last year.
The virus has been detected in mosquito samples in nearly all of the county's 22 municipalities. Only Blairstown, Frelinghuysen, Independence, Knowlton and Mansfield townships have had no positive reports. Hackettstown has seen the most positive samples at 12, and there is another a concentration of positive samples in and around Phillipsburg.
In Lehigh County ...
There have been at least 122 positive mosquito surveys to date, according to Jeffrey Carroll, a West Nile field technician with the local Penn State Extension.
That's up from 64 reported last month by the Pennsylvania West Nile Virus Control Program. As of that report, the areas most affected were in Allentown and the surrounding suburbs.
In Northampton County ...
At least 74 positive mosquito surveys have been reported to date, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
That's up from 44 reported last month by the Pennsylvania West Nile Virus Control Program. As of that report, the areas most affected were in Bethlehem, Easton and nearby towns.
Blood is screened for the presence of West Nile virus.
AP file photo
Other human cases of West Nile virus
Warren County's human case of West Nile is among at least 19 confirmed so far in New Jersey. At least seven more are under investigation, the state health department has reported. Authorities are also investigating if the virus caused a death in Bergen County.
In Pennsylvania, 18 human cases were reported as of Aug. 30, including 7 total across Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks counties. That figure, provided by the state West Nile control program, did not include the case confirmed in Lehigh County.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, West Nile had been found in 45 states and the District of Columbia as of Sept. 4. There have been at least 559 cases of human infection this year.
European Pressphoto Agency file photo
What is West Nile virus?
West Nile is a virus that infects birds and can be spread to humans via mosquito bites. Since it was first seen in the United States in 1999, the virus has been detected in 300 species of birds, and cases have been reported in all continental U.S. states, according to the CDC.
What is causing the spread?
That is unclear, though Jennifer Gruener, superintendent of the Warren County Mosquito Commission, speculated that weather has played a role. It usually takes until July for the virus to build in bird populations and become apparent in mosquito populations, she said. But this year, it began appearing at least a month earlier, possibly due to warm and wet conditions.
“It’s changing,” Gruener said. “Something is changing with the virus.”
A mosquito sample is collected.
Dan Gleiter | PennLive.com file photo
Taking action
To test for West Nile virus, mosquitoes are trapped and grouped by species and adults separated into samples. There are up to 75 mosquitoes per sample, the Warren County Mosquito Commission says. Horses are also tested in Pennsylvania and New Jersey using blood samples. There is an equine vaccination available, though not one for humans.
Warren County no longer tests dead birds, but Pennsylvania does. When a dead bird is sighted, its information is recorded and it is sent to a lab for further examination if warranted.
Once areas are targeted for control efforts, teams first try to get rid of standing water where mosquitoes live and breed. When that’s not possible, like in a pond or marsh, they will find ways to kill mosquito larvae.
Spraying programs begin when an “action threshold” is reached, when positive samples are found in a high enough concentration that raises the potential for human infection.
West Nile virus symptoms and treatment
Most people infected with West Nile never develop any symptoms, according to the CDC. About one in five will develop a fever with other symptoms, such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months, the CDC says.
More serious cases affect about one in 150 people. In these cases, the central nervous system is affected and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) can develop, the CDC says. Symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These conditions can affect anyone, but people over 60 years old and with certain other medical conditions are at greater risk.
There is no vaccine for West Nile virus, though over-the-counter pain relievers can help with some symptoms. In severe cases, hospitalization is required. Recovery can take weeks or months.
Consult your health care provider if you think you or someone you know has West Nile disease.
Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.com file photo
The Warren County Mosquito Commission sprays for bugs in the Phillipsburg area in 2012.
West Nile prevention
- Use insect repellant. You can't get it if you don't get bitten by a mosquito. The CDC has tips for application and safety.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants. This goes for babies and young children, too — keep cribs or strollers covered with mosquito netting.
- Control the bugs. At least once a week, empty, clean or throw out things that hold water outside, like tires, buckets, toys, even old tarps collecting moisture. Mosquitos thrive where there is standing water. Also make sure screens on your home's windows and doors are secure.
Gruener, in Warren County, said officials are especially urging residents in more developed areas like Hackettstown to take action.
The county's mosquito commission will also take anonymous calls reporting abandoned swimming pools -- each one, the commission says, can produce up to 1 million mosquitoes and affect people up to five miles away.
More information
The Warren County Mosquito Commission can be reached at 908-453-3585 or through its website at www.warrencountymosquito.org.
Pennsylvania's West Nile Virus Control Program is online at www.westnile.state.pa.us.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Ad Choices