There has been one confirmed human case of the West Nile virus in Erie County.
County health officials said Thursday an adult was hospitalized, but has been since released to recover at home.
The Health Department is warning residents to take precautions against mosquitoes that carry the disease. Director of Public Health Dr. Scott Zimmerman says the drier than normal summer has not flushed out standing water, allowing mosquitoes to breed.
"These hot and very dry days are contributing to a larger mosquito population," Zimmerman said. "We see that storm sewers and drainage ditches in our municipalities are not being flushed out by rains that typically occur at this time of year. So, we're seeing stagnant water in our storm sewers."
Residents are being urged to insect repellant and make sure there is no standing water in backyards.
But all across the US West Nile has become a serious issue. The Centers for Disease Control says 2012 will probably become the worse season on record for the West Nile virus.