Greene County Pool Of Mosquitoes Tests Positive For West Nile Virus

Last updated on Wednesday, September 19, 2018

(BLOOMFIELD) - Greene County Health Department Environmental Health Specialist Mark Miller says a pool of mosquitoes in the county has tested positive for West Nile Virus.

Residents are urged to protect themselves and to avoid areas where mosquitoes are prevalent.

At this time there are 69 counties in Indiana that have tested positive for West Nile Virus. Locally Monroe, Morgan, Bartholomew, Sullivan, and Washington counties have also tested positive for West Nile Virus. The Indiana Department of Health keeps track of all mosquito and human infections online.

The following information is provided to guard residents of possible exposure:

West Nile virus is a virus that is spread by mosquitoes. This virus may cause severe illness in people. Most people who get West Nile virus will have no signs or mild illness. A few individuals will have a more severe form of the disease.

Humans that are bitten by a mosquito with the virus may show signs three to 15 days after being bitten.

Anyone who gets a mosquito bite is at risk of getting West Nile fever; people over 50 years of age have the highest risk of getting severe disease. West Nile virus cannot be treated but care can be given to people with severe illness.

Those who may have been infected with the virus can have symptoms including:

high fever
severe headache
neck stiffness
muscle weakness or paralysis
nausea, vomiting
sore joints
confusion

Indiana health officials recommended taking the following measures to protect yourself:

Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are active (especially late afternoon, dusk to dawn and early morning)
Use an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on 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

You can also protect your family and your community from biting mosquitoes by:

Eliminating areas of standing water available for mosquito breeding in or near your property.

Repairing failed septic systems.

Drilling holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left out of doors. Drainage holes that are located on the container sides collect enough water for mosquitoes to breed in.

Keeping grass cut short and shrubbery trimmed.

Disposing of old tires, tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or other unused containers that can hold water. Do not overlook containers that have become overgrown by aquatic vegetation.

Cleaning clogged roof gutters, particularly if leaves tend to plug up the drains. Roof gutters are easily overlooked but can produce millions of mosquitoes each season.

Aerating ornamental pools, or stocking them with predatory fish. Water gardens are fashionable but become major mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate.

Turning over plastic wading pools when not in use. A wading pool becomes a mosquito producer if it is not used on a regular basis.

Turning over wheelbarrows and not allowing water to stagnate in birdbaths. Both provide breeding habitat for domestic mosquitoes.

Cleaning and chlorinating swimming pools that are not being used. A swimming pool that is left untended by a family that goes on vacation for a month can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood-wide complaints. Be aware that mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on swimming pool covers.

Using landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property. Mosquitoes will develop in any puddle that lasts for more than four days.

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