No human cases as of yet
(VERSAILLES, Ind.) – Health officials say a mosquito has tested positive for the West Nile Virus in Ripley County.
No human cases have been found in Ripley County this year but the health department urges the public to take extra precautions.
West Nile is a mosquito-borne virus that can spread to humans through a bite. About 80 percent of people infected with West Nile Virus will not develop any symptoms.
About 20 percent of people infected with West Nile will develop an illness accompanied by fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Less than one percent of people will develop severe illness affecting the nervous system. About 10 percent of severe West Nile Virus disease cases are fatal. People older than 60 years and those receiving immunosuppressive medications or treatments are at greatest risk.
With warm temperature here and people spending more time outdoors. There are a few precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Even a container as small as a bottle cap can become a mosquito breeding ground, so residents should take the following steps to eliminate potential breeding grounds:
Discard old tires, tin cans, ceramic pots, or other containers that can hold water;
Each week, empty and scrub items that hold water such as birdbaths, toys, pools and flowerpot saucers;
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;
Aerate ornamental pools, or stock them with predatory fish.
The Indiana Department of Health expects West Nile activity to continue across the state during mosquito season, which continues through the first hard freeze.
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