REGION West Nile virus found in Mercer Co. girl, 11

A human case was reported in Lawrence County at the end of July.
MERCER, Pa. -- An 11-year-old Mercer County girl has one of five additional human cases of West Niles virus in Pennsylvania.
The state department of health announced the latest known cases Friday, bringing the state's total for this year to 28.
A 75-year-old man in Lawrence County tested positive for the disease at the end of July, according to state health officials.
The other newly announced cases are in a 53-year-old Carbon County man, a 33-year-old Wayne County woman, a 32-year-old Lancaster County woman and a 54-year-old Philadelphia woman.
On Friday, state health officials also announced finding a positive mosquito pool in Meadville and a positive chicken flock in Mercer County.
In Ohio, nine human West Nile cases have been reported this year, including that of a 77-year-old Franklin County man, who died Aug. 11 of complications related to a probable case of the virus, the Ohio Health Department reported. So far this year, 73 birds and two horses have tested positive in Ohio.
George A. Finnerty III, Youngstown's mosquito control coordinator, trapped positive mosquitoes July 1 and 13 on the city's West Side. Two positive birds have also been found in Youngstown this year.
Mahoning Valley
Elsewhere in Mahoning County this year, two positive birds have been found in the village of Poland and one in Austintown, and there have been two groups of positive mosquitoes. No human cases have been reported in Mahoning County and no West Nile positive tests of any kind have been reported so far in Trumbull and Columbiana counties, according to the ODH.
Less than 1 percent of mosquitoes carry the virus and less than 1 percent of people bitten by an infected mosquito will become severely ill, the ODH has said.
People older than 50 and those with health problems are most at risk for complications, such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord).
The ODH urges people to take the following steps to avoid mosquito bites:
UAvoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are more likely to be biting.
UCover your skin by wearing shoes and light-colored clothing, including socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
UUse mosquito repellent.
U Keep windows and doors closed and keep screens in good repair.
UEliminate mosquito breeding places by getting rid of standing water in gutters, bird baths, old tires, plastic containers and other items that collect water.