Pa. has first 2012 West Nile virus cases

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania has recorded the first human cases of West Nile virus in the commonwealth this year.

The state Department of Health said Monday a Franklin County woman is recovering after being hospitalized with meningitis due to the virus.

Officials said a Lancaster County woman is recovering from West Nile fever, a milder form of the virus.

Residents are being urged to minimize exposure to mosquitoes due to what officials are calling an “unprecedented” level of virus-carrying insects, probably due to the mild winter.

The department says statewide sampling shows higher numbers of infected mosquitoes than in any summer since monitoring began a decade ago.

Older people and those with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk of severe illness, including encephalitis, if they are infected with West Nile virus.