The risk of West Nile virus throughout Berkshire County

Five Berkshire County communities have reported the presence of mosquitoes positive for West Nile virus to the state Department of Public Health this summer: Pittsfield, Richmond, Otis, Tyrinham and Sheffield. Those positive tests have led epidemiologists with the state to classify the West Nile virus risk for about half of the county as moderate.

Chris Horton, the superintendent of the Berkshire County Mosquito Control Project which conducts surveillance and mosquito treatments for nine communities in the county, said infected mosquitos are likely wider spread than we know — we just don't have testing in most of the county to confirm the full spread of the problem.