Indiana health officials confirm the virus has been found in mosquitoes in Shelby, Wabash and Wells counties.
Eight mosquitoes of more than 95,000 tested from 20 Ohio counties so far this summer have been positive for West Nile virus, Gary said.
The first mosquito traps in the state have tested positive for West Nile virus this season.
Larry Shaffer, director of environmental health at the Clark County Combined Health District, said he hadn’t seen more mosquitoes this year.
You may also have West Nile virus if you start vomiting or begin feeling lethargic.
· Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers. Discarded tires should be kept at one place.
Turn over plastic wading pools, wheelbarrows and birdbaths when not in use.
· Clean vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds and keep shrubs and grass trimmed. “We also use some that it called Bacillus sphaericus that is a live bacteria that mosquito’s feed on and it ruptures their gut and they die”, said Tubbs.
· Drain water from pool covers.
The affected individual, a male in his late 50’s, experienced flu-like symptoms and has since recovered, but was never hospitalized.
“The vast majority of people don’t even know that they contracted the West Nile virus because we don’t get sick”, says Alan Taege, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Cleveland Clinic. He stressed to always wear mosquito repellent with DEET, especially at dusk and at night, when they’re are most active. Read the label and carefully follow instructions.
Make sure doors and windows have tightly fitted screens. West Nile virus first appeared in Pennsylvania in 2000.
MMCD tracks citizens’ reports of dead birds throughout the metro area. The birds must not show any signs of decay or trauma.
Lab assistants at the Benton County Mosquito Control Building spend their day sorting mosquitoes. Like the Pennsylvania Department of Health has provided information at www.westnile.state pa us.
