LAWRENCE COUNTY Fight continues against virus

The woman infected with West Nile virus in Lawrence County is improving.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A few good frosts should take care of the West Nile virus problem in Lawrence County for this year, but officials say that won't stop their efforts to combat the problem.
Janice Alberico, Lawrence County's West Nile virus coordinator, said she is already thinking about how to combat the disease next year.
The mosquito-borne virus is considered deadly for the elderly and those with weak immune systems. Others infected with the disease may not experience any symptoms.
"Over the winter I would like to speak to groups on West Nile. Hopefully, we can make improvements for next year and have more public education," she said.
Lawrence County was one of the first counties in western Pennsylvania to detect the virus this year, but Alberico noted some areas of the county, particularly the southern end, that didn't see much West Nile activity.
Alberico said the county will continue monitoring for infected mosquitoes until Nov. 1. That work is still yielding results. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported last week that another mosquito pool in New Castle tested positive for the virus.
Would increase monitoring
Alberico said she would like to step up monitoring next year. One person is now setting and collecting mosquito traps through the entire county.
"What I'd like to do is hire two people and split the county in half. We didn't have any [positive mosquitoes or birds] in Ellwood City, Laurel or Hickory areas this year," she said.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is also continuing to monitor the number of dead birds found, but is no longer testing them for the disease. The state suspended bird testing in several counties last month after officials were satisfied that the disease is present.
"If we see a large number of birds being killed off in an area, it may be an indication that something is happening and we may [again] do testing in that area," said Richard McGarvey of the state health department.
He added that scientists are still trying to determine what types of birds carry the virus and that it is important for people to report all dead birds, not just the four species the health department was previously testing: crows, blue jays, hawks and owls.
Spraying
In addition to the health department's work monitoring dead birds, several areas of the state are being sprayed to kill mosquitoes, said Freda Tarbell, spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Protection.
DEP officials approved spraying in parts of Erie County last week, but not in the Lawrence County area.
Although officials say they don't expect to spray for mosquitoes in Lawrence County this year, Alberico said she is hoping to get enough state money to do it next year.
So far, three mosquito pools, 12 dead birds, two horses and one person have tested positive for West Nile virus in Lawrence County.
Alberico noted that the 62-year-old woman who was diagnosed with the disease in September is improving. The woman was initially hospitalized when doctors determined she had West Nile virus. Alberico would not release any other details on the woman.