Mosquitoes in Ohio County Test Positive for West Nile Virus

No human cases have been detected in Ohio County as of Thursday.

Shutterstock photo.

(Ohio County, Ind.) – The Ohio County Health Department was notified this week by the Indiana Department of Health that two pools of mosquitoes from Ohio County tested positive for West Nile virus.

No human cases have been detected in Ohio County as of Thursday.

The IDOH reports positive mosquitoes in 80 of Indiana’s 92 counties, and three human cases of West Nile have been confirmed in Lake and Johnson counties.

About 80 percent of people who become infected with West Nile Virus will not develop any symptoms. The other 20 percent develop an illness accompanied by fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash.

Less than one percent of people infected will develop severe illness. Those who develop symptoms should contact a doctor immediately.

Public Health officials recommend the following personal protective measures:

• Avoid being outdoors during prime mosquito activity from dusk to dawn;
• Apply an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, to clothes and exposed skin;
• Wear longsleeves and long pants in places where mosquitoes are especially active, such as wooded and shady areas;
• Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of the home.

Protect your family and your community from biting mosquitoes by:

• Eliminating areas of standing water
• Keeping grass cut short and shrubbery trimmed.
• Disposing of old tires, tin cans, and unused containers
• Keep gutters cleaned and clog free
• Torn over plastic wading pools or wheelbarrows
• Do not allow water to stagnate in birdbaths

Even a small bucket of water with stagnant water can become a breeding ground for up to 1,000 mosquitoes.

For more information about West Nile Virus visit mosquito-borne disease dashboard at IDOH.