The state has its earliest case of the potentially fatal West Nile virus in six years, with the mosquito-borne illness being found in York County. This is the earliest reported evidence of the virus since 2003, when the virus was detected in late April, according to the state’s West Nile Virus Surveillance Program. The virus goes dormant each winter as mosquito populations die off.

The virus was detected May 5 in a dead crow found in Springettsbury Twp. No human cases have been detected this year. In 2008, West Nile virus was discovered in 37 of the 67 counties, with 14 people infected. One death was attributed to the disease last year.

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