Tamaqua has been added to the list of Schuylkill County communities testing positive for the West Nile virus.

"We have conducted nine control events in the last two weeks, after the last round of samples found more infectivity in Schuylkill County," said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) spokesman Amanda Witman, via email. "The localized nature of the virus is much more normal than what we saw last year, which was a full-blown epidemic."Testing results and other related information were also reported recently and listed on the state website

westnile.state.pa.us, which provides detailed information on prevention, surveillance and control. According to the site this morning, there were 13 positive cases of the virus found over the past few months in the county. No human cases have been reported in Schuylkill County."Mosquitoes came out much later this year when compared to last year," Witman said. "That was primarily due to a relatively cold spring."Last year, which involved 10 Schuylkill County municipalities, had mosquitoes first test positive on June 19, compared to July 26 this year. Tamaqua and West Mahanoy Township tested positive Aug. 13."Last year was very busy," said DEP spokesman Colleen Connolly, who said that May to September were most active. She added that this year's colder temperatures might have resulted in a lull at the end of May, although she added that there is no scientific reason.In Pennsylvania, Delaware County has the most reported cases of the virus at 58; with Adams County having 47 cases and Bucks County with 42. Counties affected in the TIMES NEWS coverage area include, Carbon, 2; Schuylkill, 13; Lehigh, 21; Monroe, 8; and Northampton, 14.In addition to Tamaqua, other Schuylkill County municipalities affected were West Mahanoy Township, Minersville, Tremont, Cressona, Butler and Pine Grove.The state Department of Health said Friday that the first human cases of the virus had been detected. The probable cases involve two males; a man from Montgomery County, who was hospitalized, and a man from York County, who did not require hospitalization."The next round of sampling will focus on residential areas in the areas displaying the highest level of infectivity," said Witman, who added that the county is classified as having moderate risk. "Control decisions will be made after the results of that sampling is done."Last year was the perfect storm for a WNV outbreak," added Witman, who said warmer temperatures make it is easier for the virus to spread from one organism to another. "A warm, wet winter followed by a hot spring and early summer made the perfect conditions for the mosquito populations to thrive and become infected with WNV."Interestingly, we are trapping more mosquitoes this year than we have in any other year, already more than one million collected statewide," said Witman. "The population itself is strong, but there is very little virus in the population."So far this year, 504 cases of the virus have been documented in Pennsylvania. Currently, 38 of the 67 counties in the state had mosquitoes test positive for the virus detected in mosquitoes. Six of which had birds test positive for the virus.Last year, 3,656 cases of the virus were detected, with 56 non-fatal and four fatal human cases of the virus being reported in the state. Before 1999, no reported cases of West Nile were found in the United States. The virus was first detected in the state in 2000."So far, no spraying is planned for Schuylkill County, although it is not off the table," said Connolly.According to a fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus is most often spread by mosquitoes, as well as via blood transfusions, breastfeeding, organ transplants and during pregnancy. It adds that the virus causes flu-like symptoms and could result in inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).People infected by the virus can show symptoms in less than three days, but up to 14 days after being bitten by a mosquito."Go to the doctor if you have any signs of the virus," said Connolly.Connolly, who stressed that school sports are now in full swing, provided a few recommendations to lessen the chance of being infected. Some summer recommendations include: wear bug spray, wear long-sleeve pants and high shoes and make efforts to get rid of standing water.She added that mosquitoes are more likely to "bite" at dusk and dawn.