Sep 29, 2002 By Steve Ferris 3 min read

Another bird has tested positive for West Nile virus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Fayette County to 11. A blue jay found dead in North Union Township tested positive for the virus last week, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported.

Those birds were among 61 that were collected for testing before the department notified Arthur Cappella, Fayette County’s chief community development specialist and West Nile program coordinator, on Sept. 19 that county residents should stop collecting dead birds for testing.

Fayette County is one of many counties in which bird collection has been discontinued, while Greene County is still testing. The health department says bird collections can stop in counties after five birds test positive, but residents who find dead birds should report them to the health department and discard the birds.

In Fayette County, of the 61 birds submitted for testing, 22 have been tested and 11 had the virus.

Cappella said mosquito trapping will continue through October. Only 87 of 223 mosquito samples have been tested, and only one batch tested positive.

Residents who find dead birds should dispose of them so mosquitoes don’t feed on them and pets to eat them.

Cappella said he recommends that residents eliminate any pools of water left behind from the rain on Thursday and Friday because they can become breeding sites for mosquitoes.

“Pools of water will become stagnant pools, which become breeding pools,” Cappella said. “All it takes is a warm day.”

He said bird baths, recycling containers and garbage should be emptied of any water collected in them during last week’s rain.

Cappella said he has 20 mosquito traps scattered throughout the county, and the state Department of Environmental Protection has set up additional traps.

He said he is concentrating the trapping effort in the Meadowbrook area of South Union Township, where a sampling of mosquitoes tested positive for the virus.

In other developments, Cappella said a New York doctor is treating people suspected of having contracted the virus with Intron-A on a trial basis. He said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the drug’s use.

He said the drug is supposed to lessen the severity of the virus’ flu-like symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness.

Cappella also said the Centers for Disease Control confirmed that the virus can be spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants, but the agency is taking steps to prevent such spreading.

Older people and anybody with weakened immune systems are the most susceptible, but anybody can contract the disease.

Cappella and the health department recommends that residents wear long sleeves, pants and insect repellant when outdoors in areas known to harbor mosquitoes.