While Pennsylvania is on a record pace for West Nile Virus positives this year,   it is hardly alone and not even among the states with the highest numbers. The virus has been found in 48 states,  with Hawaii and Alaska as the only exceptions. 44 states have reported human cases. Over 70% of those cases are in six states; Texas, South Dakota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Michigan and Louisiana.

Dr. Lyle Petersen, Director of the CDC’s Division of Vector Borne Infectious Diseases, says the number of human cases rose 25% in the last week, but it appears the epidemic may have peaked in August. He adds a great number of cases may still be reported because it can take 3 to 14 days for symptoms to appear.

Pennsylvania has had 16 human cases reported through September 6th, 11 of them were the more serious neuro-invasive form on the disease.  One of the victims died.  There have been 18 veterinary cases, mostly in horses. 103 dead birds have tested positive, including six Great Horned Owls, two American Kestrels and 11 hawks (Red tail, Cooper’s, Broad-winged and Sharp-shinned). The state has recorded 29 hundred positive mosquitoes.

With the recent heavy rains in some areas, people are advised to eliminate standing water around their homes.  The common house mosquito is one of the carriers of the virus and usually doesn’t stray far from where it breeds.  It can breed in about an inch of water. The rain may have washed away a number of larvae, but it will also create more breeding ground for the mosquitoes to reproduce.