The Allegheny County Health Department announced Tuesday that Pennsylvania’s first human case of West Nile virus of the year has been reported from a Baldwin Borough resident.
The county saw one case of the virus last year and two cases in 2022, per an ACHD news release.
“We’ve known this could be a potential case for a few weeks now,” said Nicholas Baldauf, Allegheny County Health Department vector control specialist. “We are taking precautions.”
The news comes a day after the county announced that mosquitoes had tested positive for West Nile virus in six city neighborhoods, with insecticide spraying scheduled in the areas for Wednesday night.
Mr. Baldauf said additional mosquito traps have been installed in the borough, which was sprayed with an insecticide treatment on July 10.
There are also plans to apply barrier treatment to some properties around the area, said Mr. Baldauf, which involves applying residual pesticide around certain vegetation where mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus tend to congregate.
The county reported that the patient displayed signs of fever and weakness, which led to hospitalization. The patient’s age and current status were not released for privacy reasons.
The release states less than 1% of people who are infected with West Nile virus will develop severe symptoms — 70% to 80% do not develop symptoms at all. Brain inflammation is a severe symptom of the virus.
The last time there was a human case of the virus in Allegheny County was in the fall: After contracting the virus, an 80-year-old female resident of the city’s Elliott neighborhood died in late September.
“The ACHD urges residents to protect themselves from mosquitoes by removing standing water in yards, making sure that open windows and doors have screens, and using insect repellent on exposed skin, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active,” ACHD said in the release. “When used as directed, insect repellent is the best way to protect yourself from mosquito bites.”
Hanna Webster: hwebster@post-gazette.com
First Published: July 16, 2024, 9:12 p.m.
Updated: July 17, 2024, 9:51 a.m.