West Nile virus found in Uhrichsville
West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States.
The Tuscarawas County Health Department has been conducting trapping for the culex species of mosquito throughout the summer in Tuscarawas County. To date, the health department has trapped and submitted over 6,000 mosquitoes to the Ohio Department of Health for testing.
TCHD was notified Aug. 24 by the Ohio Department of Health that a pool of mosquitoes collected Aug. 1 at the following location has tested positive for the West Nile virus: 7667 Blizzard Ridge Road SE, Uhrichsville.
The health department will respond to the positive pool according to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and conducted mosquito spraying within a 2-mile radius of the trap location in Mill Township.
Spraying also will take place in this area again in approximately two weeks. More information will be released at a later date.
West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. It is most commonly spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. Cases of WNV occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people. Most people infected with WNV do not feel sick. Around 20% of people who are infected will develop a fever and other symptoms.
Symptoms of West Nile virus
Around 80% of people infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms. Febrile illness (fever) is experienced by some people. About 20% of people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Most people with febrile illness due to West Nile virus recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.
Prevention
Residents are encouraged to follow the following guidelines from the Ohio Department of Health to avoid mosquito bites:
—Use insect repellent when you go outdoors.
—When weather permits, wear long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with repellent will provide extra protection.
—Take extra care during peak mosquito biting hours and take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing from dusk to dawn or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.
—Ways to mosquito-proof your home include the following: install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside, use your air-conditioning if you have it, and help reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires and birdbaths on a regular basis.
Taking these steps will help protect against mosquito-borne diseases including WNV, La Crosse virus and Zika virus. For more details about the TCHD mosquito control program, visit www.tchdnow.org/mosquito-control.html or call 330-343-5550.