Grant to be used to monitor West Nile virus

MERCER, Pa. -- A $70,280 state grant has been awarded to Mercer County to pay for West Nile virus monitoring. State Rep. Bob Robbins of Greenville, R-50th, said the money will be used to implement mosquito monitoring and virus surveillance program to determine if the virus is present in Mercer County and assist in alerting residents about the issue.
There were no reported cases in the county last year, when two samples tested positive in Crawford County. The virus can infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and some other mammals, affecting the nervous system.