The first confirmed case of West Nile Virus this year in Pennsylvania comes from our region. State officials say the virus was detected in a red-tailed hawk found May 2, in Worth Township, Centre County.
The Departments of Environmental Protection and Health also report a case of West Nile in a turkey vulture found May 17 in Orrstown Borough, Franklin County.
The virus, which is carried by mosquitoes can cause an infection in humans that leads to encephalitis, but most people infected with it, don’t become sick. Last year, West Nile Virus was detected in 56 counties and resulted in 14 human cases, including one fatality.