Published: August 20, 2008 11:22 am            

West Nile Virus detected in Cambria County

MINE 42 — State officials reported that a Cambria County mosquito sample was one of 24 in the state that tested positive for West Nile Virus on Wednesday.

Preventive mosquito spraying will be conducted this evening in the village of Mine 42 in Adams Township.

According to Mary Vibostok, the county’s West Nile coordinator, the Aug. 4 sample was collected as part of a routine collection schedule.

“We’ve been sampling in this area (of Mine 42) for years, but this is the first time we have gotten a positive,” Vibostok said.

This is the first time in two years that a positive was found in the region. Neither Cambria nor Somerset counties have found a positive since 2006.

Twenty-nine counties statewide have already tested positive for the virus, compared to 25 last year.

Vibostok said this time of year is when the positive findings begin to peak, and more positives are likely.

“The western part of the state hasn’t had the results that the eastern part has seen already,” Vibostok said. “Eastern counties have gone absolutely crazy. It’s the biggest year for positives statewide since 2003.”

Vibostok said she and her assistant typically collect mosquito and dead bird samples from April to October.

        

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