The Pennsylvania Department of Health has confirmed that Pennsylvania has had two human deaths due to West Nile Virus.

Department spokesman Nate Wardle told Lancaster Online on Friday one death was in Lancaster County and the other was in Lebanon County. Wardle told the media outlet that the department was unable to provide further details due to privacy.

However, Lancaster Online reported that an obit it ran for Harlan H. Hoover, 81, of Gordonville, indicated he died Sept. 17 at Lancaster General Hospital "after contracting West Nile virus."

Wardle told the newspaper there have been 33 human cases of West Nile virus this year. That includes one case each in Dauphin and York counties, four in Lebanon County, and three in Berks County

That is 15 more than is indicated on the Department of Environmental Protection's website, which was last updated on Aug. 30.

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, four out of five people infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms, severe illness including meningitis or encephalitis, or even death, can occur in rare instances. People older than 60 or immune-compromised individuals are at higher risk for severe illness.

According to Pennsylvania's West Nile Control Program's website last updated Aug. 14, much of southcentral Pennsylvania is considered high risk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all residents of areas where virus activity has been identified are at risk of getting West Nile encephalitis.

The following precautions are recommended: