West Nile virus found in Centre County mosquitoes. What is the current risk?
Samples of mosquitoes in State College Borough, Rush Township, College Township and Harris Township recently tested positive for West Nile virus, which can spread from infected mosquitoes to humans.
The Centre County Board of Commissioners reported in a Monday news release residents should take precautions, including inspecting their yards, taking a few minutes to clean up, reduce yard clutter and dump out any sources of standing water. The positive mosquito samples in State College Borough and Rush Township were reported Wednesday.
Pennsylvania has confirmed nine human cases of West Nile virus so far this year, state Department of Environmental Protection spokesperson Megan Lehman wrote in a Tuesday email to the Centre Daily Times.
No human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Centre County so far to date, Lehman said.
The Allegheny County Health Department reported a human case of West Nile virus Monday, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there have also been cases in Schuylkill, Bucks and Lancaster counties.
West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental U.S. Most people who are infected with the virus are asymptomatic, but others can develop fever, and about 1 in 150 people who are infected develop a serious and sometimes fatal illness.
“The best protection against mosquito-borne disease is mosquito bite prevention,” the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection says.
Centre County residents can report mosquito concerns online at the Pennsylvania West Nile virus website or by contacting the Centre County Mosquito Disease Control Program at 814-404-4012, 814-355-6791 or sconklin@centrecountypa.gov.
“West Nile Virus usually produces flu like symptoms, with rare fatalities. The mosquitoes that transmit the virus also don’t seek out humans as their primary host, as they primarily feed on birds,” Sara Conklin, mosquito disease control program coordinator for Centre County, wrote in a Wednesday email to the Centre Daily Times.
The current risk level of West Nile virus locally is enough to warrant taking protective measures, Conklin continued, but there’s no need to panic about the virus.
How to prevent mosquito bites in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recommends residents follow best practices to mitigate mosquito bites, including:
- Avoid going outside at dawn or dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
- Wear protective clothing.
- Use insect repellent.
- Stay in a place with air conditioning and window screens.
- Remove any standing water at home or in your yard.
- Clean your birdbath weekly.
- Keep your grass short.
“To help prevent the spread of West Nile Virus, it is important to control mosquitoes around your home. Once a week, dump, drain, or treat artificial containers such as tires, buckets, bird baths, ornamental ponds, flowerpots, tarps, toys, etc. to reduce areas where mosquitoes can live — mosquito larvae can hatch in standing water as small as a bottle cap,” Lehman said.
When choosing an insect repellent, Lehman recommended an EPA-approved formula with DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon or eucalyptus.
This story was originally published August 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
