71 Mosquito Samples Test Positive For West Nile Virus In Pennsylvania

A slew of 71 mosquito samples recently tested positive for West Nile Virus in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced on Wednesday.

It’s the largest sample announced yet this year.

There were five samples in Bucks County, three in Chester County, four in Delaware County, and eight in Montgomery County that tested positive.

The Montgomery County positive samples were found in Upper Merion, Horsham, Upper Moreland, and Abington. There were four in Horsham.

The samples were discovered in undisclosed locations, although generally “mosquito pool” is the most detail that is released.

Officials have not yet said if there will be spraying after the latest positive tests.

Several local areas, including Abington and Phoenixville, have been sprayed in 2015 due to concerns over mosquitoes and West Nile Virus.

Residents in Phoenixville previously expressed concerns about the spraying of Permanone RTU, citing environmental risks.

The Chester County Health Department maintained that the chemicals were sprayed in safe quantities.

West Nile was first confirmed in Pennsylvania in 2000 when it was found in a horse, mosquitoes, and birds.

There have been nearly 40,000 cases of West Nile in the United States since then, and 119 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

There has only been one cases of West Nile in a human reported in Pennsylvania in 2015, although many western states have had more positive tests.

Positive bird tests are much rarer than positive mosquito tests. The DEP urges all residents to report dead bird sightings.

For more information on West Nile Virus, and how to help prevent mosquito populations from increasing artificially in your neighborhood, please see previous Patch coverage.

Here is the full list of locations in Pennsylvania that announced positive tests on Wednesday:

• Adams - Abbottstown Boro

• Adams - Cumberland Twp

• Adams - Gettysburg Boro (4)

• Adams - Hamilton Twp

• Adams - Oxford Twp (4)

• Adams - Straban Twp

• Allegheny - Monroeville Boro

• Allegheny - Pittsburgh City (4)

• Bucks - Newtown Twp

• Bucks - Warminster Twp (3)

• Bucks - Warrington Twp (3)

• Bucks - Warwick Twp

• Bucks - Yardley Boro

• Chester - Phoenixville Boro (2)

• Chester - Tredyffrin Twp

• Dauphin - Harrisburg City

• Delaware - Concord Twp

• Delaware - Middletown Twp

• Delaware - Radnor Twp

• Delaware - Thornbury Twp

• Franklin - Chambersburg Boro (2)

• Franklin - Washington Twp

• Lancaster - Conoy Twp

• Lancaster - East Donegal Twp (2)

• Lancaster - West Hempfield Twp

• Lebanon - Jonestown Boro

• Lebanon - Lebanon City

• Lebanon - North Lebanon Twp

• Lehigh - Upper Saucon Twp

• Luzerne - Hunlock Twp

• Montgomery - Abington Twp

• Montgomery - Horsham Twp (4)

• Montgomery - Upper Merion Twp (2)

• Montgomery - Upper Moreland Twp

• Northumberland - Ralpho Twp

• Philadelphia - Philadelphia City (10)

• Westmoreland - New Florence Boro

• York - Fairview Twp

• York - Manchester Twp (2)

• York - Spring Garden Twp

• York - Springettsbury Twp