West Nile Virus
PA's Official West Nile Virus Website
What is West Nile Encephalitis?
West Nile encephalitis had never been documented in the Western Hemisphere before the late summer of 1999, when an outbreak occurred in the New York City metropolitan area. In 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 62 human cases of encephalitis, including seven deaths, although the actual human infection rate was much higher. Most people who are infected with the West Nile virus have no symptoms or may experience mild illness such as fever, headache, body aches, mild skin rash, or swollen lymph glands.
Infected mosquitoes transmit the West Nile virus. These mosquitoes usually bite and infect wild birds -- the primary host of the virus -- but can also infect horses and other mammals, in addition to humans. In September 2000, the first cases of West Nile virus were confirmed in birds, mosquitoes, and a horse in Pennsylvania. By 2002, West Nile virus had spread throughout most of the United States.
How is the State of Pennsylvania Responding?
Since 2000, the PA Governor has proposed over $30 million for Pennsylvania's West Nile Virus Surveillance Program. This funding has been used to prevent and mitigate the potential public-health effects of the West Nile virus on the citizens of the Commonwealth. The funds will provide necessary staffing and an improved epidemiological infrastructure to detect the virus.
The PA Departments of Health, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture have developed a comprehensive, statewide plan to detect and respond to a virus outbreak in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania's plan has three parts: Education, Surveillance, and if the surveillance program determines there is a risk, the Control of Mosquitoes. Other agencies helping with the West Nile virus efforts include: Aging, Conservation and Natural Resources, the PA Fish and Boat Commission, and the PA Game Commission.
Specifically, the Department of Health conducts laboratory testing to confirm West Nile virus cases in dead bird samples. They are monitoring any possible human cases and also working with health care providers across the state to educate them about the signs and symptoms of West Nile virus infection.
The Department of Environmental Protection works with representatives from all 67 counties on a comprehensive mosquito surveillance and control network. Since the virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, early detection and control is the key.
The Department of Agriculture is monitoring animal populations for any signs of the virus. It has established sentinel chicken sites throughout Pennsylvania, and is assisting the Department of Health in dead bird testing.
What is Penn State Doing About West Nile Encephalitis?
Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences took a proactive role on this issue. In April 2000, a West Nile Virus Coordinating Committee was assembled and included representatives from administration, the Pesticide Education Program, the Entomology Department, the Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department, the Dairy and Animal Science Department, and Lehigh County Extension. This committee developed publications, worked with PA state agencies, and established contacts outside the University.
Penn State Cooperative Extension and Outreach has designated one person in each county office to serve as a West Nile virus contact person. If you have any questions about West Nile virus, they would be an excellent source of information. You may e-mail them or if you don't have e-mail access, you can always contact the Department of Health through their toll-free 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) number.
