West Nile virus is responsible for two human deaths in Pa: Report

The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed that Pennsylvania had caused two deaths in humans because of West Nile virus.

Department spokesman Nate Wardle told Lancaster Online on Friday that one of the deaths had occurred in Lancaster County and the other in Lebanon County. Wardle told the media that the department was unable to provide more details because of confidentiality.

However, Lancaster Online reported that an obit for Harlan H. Hoover, 81, of Gordonville, reported that he had died Sept. 17 at Lancaster General Hospital "after contracting the West Nile virus ".

The department spokesman told the newspaper that there had been 33 human cases of West Nile virus this year. This includes a case in the counties of Dauphin and York, four in the county of Lebanon and three in the county of Berks.

Wardle also told the statewide that there had been 33 human cases of West Nile virus this year, including three in Lancaster County; four in Lebanon County; three in Berks County; and one in Dauphin County and York County.

This is 15 more than what is stated on the website of the Department of Environmental Protection, which was last updated on August 30th.

West Nile virus is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. Symptoms can last from a few days to a few weeks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, four out of five people infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms, serious diseases, including meningitis or encephalitis, or even death, may occur in rare cases. People over 60 or immunocompromised people are at higher risk of serious illness.

According to the website of the Pennsylvania Nile Control Program updated on August 14, much of south-central Pennsylvania is considered high risk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all inhabitants of areas where viral activity has been identified are at risk of contracting West Nile encephalitis.

The following precautions are recommended:

• Buy products containing Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) – a natural bacterium that kills mosquito larvae but is safe for humans, pets and plants – for puddles of stagnant water in the lawn and the garden.
• Remove any stagnant water in pots, containers, pool covers, tires, wheelbarrows, wading pools, gutters and other containers containing water.
• Make sure screens are tight on doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering homes.
• Remember to wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks outdoors, especially when mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, or in areas known to have a large number of mosquitoes.
• Reduce outdoor exposure at dawn and dusk during peak mosquito periods, usually from April to October.
• Use insect repellents according to the manufacturer's instructions. An effective repellent will contain DEET, picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil. Consult a pediatrician or family doctor if you have questions about the use of insect repellent in children because a repellent is not recommended in children under two months of age.