Faced with a growing number of positive tests for West Nile virus in mosquito pools and dead birds, state and local health officials on Thursday said they fear people might soon contract the virus.

        “If we're going to have human cases, they're probably going to be showing up about now,” said Richard L. Berry, chief of the vector-borne disease program for the Ohio Department of Health.

        The virus “is definitely taking a stronger foothold than it was last year,” he said. Only one dead blue jay had tested positive statewide by late July 2001 — but this year, as of Thursday, more than 300 dead birds have been found with the virus, he said.

        At least 56 Ohio counties — including Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren — have had bird carcasses test positive.

        Butler County's health department reported Thursday that three more dead blue jays — two from West Chester Township and one from Fairfield — were found to have West Nile virus. A total of seven Butler birds have now been found with the virus.

        Positive mosquito pools have been found in at least 15 counties, including Butler and Hamilton counties.

        Middletown, most of which is in Butler County, had an unusual situation: Positive mosquito pools were found before any birds were found dead with the virus, noted Ronald Murray, that city's health commissioner.

        The positive tests came from five pools of mosquitoes, trapped from the Miami River Reserve Park and a location near the city garage downtown.

        “So even though we have not found the positive birds, we know there must be some because we've got the mosquitoes,” he said. “We do know it's here.”

        The Middletown Health Department will be dropping off notifications to all doctors who practice at Middletown Regional Hospital, providing them with a description of West Nile symptoms, Mr. Murray said.

        Although health officials urge people to be alert and take precautions, they also say the risk of contracting the virus remains low. “Most people, even if bitten by a carrier mosquito, will not develop any symptoms,” the Middletown Health Department's news release says.

        Dogs and cats are apparently resistant to the virus, Mr. Berry said.

        The primary means of transmission is by mosquito bites. The virus can cause brain swelling but is rarely fatal.

        That's why health officials are asking the public to take three major preventive steps:

        • Apply mosquito repellent to exposed skin, especially at night.

        • Eliminate stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed.

        • Make sure window screens don't have holes.

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