Mosquito traps positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) in Luzerne County have more than doubled since 2023, according to data released by the Luzerne Conservation District.

Out of 692 gravid traps that were set, the 2025 season saw a total of 89 WNV-positive gravid traps that were sent for testing to the state’s Department of Environmental Protection in Harrisburg.

Gravid traps are used to capture gravid, or pregnant, adult female mosquitoes with a mix of hay and water to mimic a suitable breeding ground to lay their eggs. Once collected, the mosquitoes can be tested for viruses.

That’s a slight increase from the 86 WNV-positive gravid traps collected in 2024, but a large increase from the 34 collected in 2023.

The 2025 numbers are closer to what was found in 2018. 2019 and 2020 had the low

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