Another case of West Nile virus has been reported in Crawford County after testing on a dead crow came back with positive results on Thursday.

The crow was found in the yard of a Route 8, Rome Township residence. With the positive result, the staff of Crawford County West Nile Virus Control Program is closely monitoring the Rome Township and Centerville areas.

But there is no guarantee the virus exists there. Birds sickened by West Nile virus are assumed to have flown into the area where they are found, perhaps even disoriented.

The crow was found Aug. 20, and its death brings to at least three the number of positive West Nile findings in Crawford County since mid-August. Another infected crow was found dead on Aug. 12 in the back yard of a home along Route 18 in Sadsbury Township.

Test results have not come back yet on a blue jay found on South Norrisville Road in Hayfield Township about the same time.

A third positive test was reported from a mosquito caught in a trap in Saegertown in early August. Extremely high mosquito populations were found in Saegertown and Woodcock Township again this week. Though none were carrying the virus, West Nile officials were to again spray those areas Thursday evening.

So, with two dead birds, one mosquito and one result pending, Crawford County numbers are the highest in the northwest Pennsylvania region. Erie County had one positive bird, and Warren County one positive mosquito this summer. Statewide, the infection has been found in nine dead birds from seven counties; and 35 counties have reported infested mosquitos. There has been one confirmed case in a human — a 27-year-old female in Montgomery County. The human case was not fatal.

The late-summer boom has the local West Nile staff in high gear. “It’s been a busy season, that’s for sure,” said local program manger Tammy Hamilton. “And now we’re expecting rains (this weekend) which may cause a surge in (mosquito) numbers. We’re looking forward to the first good, hard frost” to kill off mosquito populations, she said.

Ever-calm in the face of her scientific tasks, Hamilton wants to make one point clear to local residents. “We are running a virus intervention program. We examine mosquitos and establish vectors of highest possibility (to assist public awareness and safety). But we get phone calls from people who want us to ‘go out and kill them all’ (referring to local mosquitos). That’s not our job.”

Anyone who finds a dead bird is asked to call 724-7394 to report it. But the local staff is only testing crows, blue jays and raptors for the disease.

In humans, West Nile virus can cause encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can be fatal.

With several cases already reported, residents are urged to use common sense by getting rid of all areas of standing water, such as rain gutters, bird baths, old tires, pots, jars, cans and barrels; check for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, including under bushes and buildings. And, if outdoors for any length of time when mosquitos are biting, use an effective mosquito repellent and wear long pants and long-sleeve shirts.

n For more information and statewide statistics about West Nile: Go to www.westnile.state.pa.us.