Marshall County Health officials are urging Marshall County residents to take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites amid an increase in West Nile virus activity in mosquitoes across the state.
On August 15, the Indiana State Department of Health had 5 samples of mosquitoes collected in Marshall County test positive for West Nile. So far, there have been no confirmed cases of West Nile in the human population in Marshall County. However, there have been at least 4 cases of human West Nile in the State so far this year.
“Each year, we see people become ill as a result of mosquito bites,” said State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams, M.D., M.P.H. ”Finding West Nile virus in mosquitoes from more than half of Indiana’s counties means that the risk is increasing statewide. I urge all Hoosiers to take precautions against mosquito bites, which will protect against West Nile and other viruses transmitted by mosquitoes.”
“No one should wait until there is a confirmed sample of WN in their city, town or county to take action to prevent the bite of a mosquito”, stated Christine Stinson, Marshall County Health Department Administrator, “By the time it is found in the mosquito population by testing mosquitoes, it may be too late and you have been exposed to this virus.” “You should be vigilant against mosquito bites until the first hard frost.”
State health officials recommend the following preventive measures:
• Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are active (especially late afternoon, dusk to dawn and early morning);
• Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol to clothes and exposed skin;
• Cover exposed skin by wearing a hat, long sleeves and long pants in places where mosquitoes are especially active, such as wooded areas;
• Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of the home.
Even a container as small as a bottle cap can become a mosquito breeding ground, so residents should take the following steps:
• Discard old tires, tin cans, ceramic pots or other containers that can hold water;
• Repair failed septic systems;
• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers left outdoors;
• Keep grass cut short and shrubbery trimmed;
• Clean clogged roof gutters, particularly if leaves tend to plug up the drains;
• Frequently replace the water in pet bowls;
• Flush ornamental fountains and birdbaths weekly; and,
• Aerate ornamental pools, or stock them with predatory fish.
West Nile virus can cause West Nile fever, a mild form of the illness, which can include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands or a rash. Some people will develop a more severe form of the disease affecting the nervous system, including inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, muscle paralysis or even death. People who think they may have West Nile virus should visit their healthcare provider.
To see the latest results of ISDH’s mosquito surveillance, go to https://gis.in.gov/apps/ISDH/Arbo/. To learn more about West Nile virus, visit www.StateHealth.in.gov. For important health updates, follow the Indiana State Department of Health on Twitter at @StateHealthIN and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/isdh1.
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