Pocono News Section

First West Nile Case in PA Discovered in Luzerne Co.

First West Nile Case in PA Discovered in Luzerne Co. - Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 6:53PM EST

Reported by: Dave Skutnik
Tuesday, Jun 17, 2008 @ 06:53pm EST
WEST WYOMING, LUZERNE COUNTY- The first case of West Nile in Pennsylvania was discovered in West Wyoming, Luzerne County in some woods behind the Little League field on Sixth Street.

The mosquito was picked up in a trap almost two weeks ago. The positive test came back from the state on Friday. Now spraying is scheduled for Tuesday evening.

"That makes me a little nervous. I have two small children and we're outside all the time, all the time. I didn't know they found it until you just told me," said Amy Kosco of West Wyoming.

Kosco was out for an afternoon stroll with her dog when we stopped by. She says she had no idea the West Nile Virus was found in the woods just down the street from her West Wyoming home.

"I find it a little scary that we don't know anything about it. I'm walking the dog and you pull up and now I know that the West Nile Virus is found down the street from where I live. That's a little worrisome for me," she said.

She says that kids are constantly playing in the woods between the little league field and these homes. Nicole Cumbo also lives nearby and says she saw kids there today - even after the news about the West Nile Virus came out. "There were kids playing back here today in the field. They jumped the fence," she said.

Now the county says they'll be spraying to try to get rid of the problem. They've found nearly four times the number of mosquitoes as normal. Andy Gegaris who is with the county said, "Due to the excessive count we need to get the ones that are on wing right now - the fliers - and that's what this fogging or misting will do [Tuesday] night."

He says the spraying poses no danger to people or pets. "None. Totally safe. The only problem you may have is an excessive odor," he added.

The streets targeted by county and state officials for spraying are Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Streets, along with Shoemaker Avenue from the old Moonlight Drive-in to Swetland Lane, and Feretti, Apollo and Browncrest Drives.