Hellertown Mosquito Tests Positive for West Nile Virus

Although fall is right around the corner and cooler temperatures are in the forecast, mosquitoes remain active in Pennsylvania. In fact, a mosquito in Hellertown has tested positive for the West Nile virus, the state's West Nile Control Program reported Tuesday.

According to the agency's daily report for Sept. 18, the insect was one of 19 throughout the state to recently test positive for the virus, which can cause life-threatening complications in rare cases. A virus-positive mosquito was also reported in Allentown, Lehigh County.

Although there have only been a handful of human cases reported, the 2012 season has been one of the worst on record for the West Nile virus in Pennsylvania and throughout the U.S. Some experts have attributed the spike in the number of positive samples this year to the warmer than average winter and spring that the area experienced.

According to the West Nile Control Program report, the Department of Environmental Protection and county West Nile virus programs are responding with additional mosquito surveillance and control measures in areas where positive test samples have been reported.