With unseasonably warm weather and an especially wet summer, the West Nile threat in Lebanon County this summer has been both longer and more pronounced than in previous seasons.
Now the County waits for the first hard frost, which will likely happen later this month, an event that will kill remaining mosquitoes.
So far this year Lebanon County has seen 88 confirmed reports of West Nile virus this year, including one death, with Pennsylvania seeing the worst outbreak since 2003. The state did not release the identity of the person who died from complications with West Nile, but the Lebanon Daily News published an obituary for Ruth Adams of Palmyra, who passed away after “a brief but fierce battle with West Nile Virus.”
The 88 reports constituted of: 5 humans, 1 bird, 81 mosquitoes, and 1 from a domestic animal.
Here is a graphic showing the prevalence of West Nile in Pennsylvania:
And another showing the relative severity of outbreaks across counties:
The first hard frost is expected later this month, although if the unseasonably warm trend continues it may be November before it happens.
With questions in Lebanon County you are advised to contact Olivia Bingeman at oab5028@psu.edu; Olivia works under the mantle of the Lebanon County Commissioners.