With the rapid spread of West Nile virus around the country, it seemed that sooner or later it would appear here.

And it has confirmed, West Nile has spread to North Central Florida.

The Alachua County Health Department has detected mosquito borne diseases in two sentinel chickens.

Health department officials say "The risk of disease transmission to humans and animals has increased.

No human cases have come to light.

The centers for disease control reports twenty-three human cases in Duval County, but none so far anywhere in North Central Florida.