LAKE COUNTY, Ohio — The Lake County General Health District (LCGHD) announced on Tuesday that the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has confirmed three positive mosquito pools for West Nile Virus in Lake County.
A "pool" is defined as a collection of no more than 50 mosquitos. The samples were collected in late-July, but indicate that it is likely that more mosquitos positive for West Nile Virus are present throughout the county.
The presence of the pools serves as confirmation that "the WNV threat is present and will likely increase for the rest of the summer." While positive WNV mosquitoes have previously been reported in other Ohio counties this summer, there have been no human cases of WNV reported in Ohio to date.
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20 percent of people who contract WNV develop a fever with symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. While individuals usually recover completely, fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months. Meanwhile, one in 150 people who contract WNV develops a severe illness affecting the central nervous system, such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord).
"West Nile Virus is native to Lake County and Ohio since 2001, and will continue to be a long-term public health threat,” Bert Mechenbier, Environmental Health Supervisor for the LCGHD said in a statement.
Mechenbier also shared that the Health District is asking property owners to participate in “Tip it Tuesday” as a way to limit mosquito breeding around their homes. Residents are asked to look for and tip over any container that is holding water in an effort to eliminate mosquito breeding locations.
“If this is done weekly, the mosquito life cycle will be broken, and less disease-carrying mosquitos will populate the area,” Mechenbier said.
He also offered the following tips for reducing risk of WNV:
- Dispose of tin cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools, plastic covers or other containers that collect and hold water.
- Keep roof gutters unclogged. Clean gutters in the spring and fall.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs. Keep them covered when empty.
- Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels, and potted trays at least once a week, if not more often.
- Check for water in children’s toys.
- Fill or drain puddles, ditches, and swampy areas and either remove, drain, or fill tree holes and stumps with mortar.
- Contact the health department with concerns regarding malfunctioning septic systems.
- Eliminate standing water around animal watering troughs.
- Irrigate lawns and gardens carefully to prevent water from standing for several days.
- Avoid being outside from dusk until dawn when mosquitoes are most active. If you cannot avoid those times, use an insect repellent.
- Use an insect repellent containing Picaridin or DEET. Use repellents according to label instructions. Take special care when using insect repellents on children. Wash treated skin and clothing after returning indoors.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks if you go outside when mosquitoes are most active (from dusk until dawn).
- Make sure window and door screens are “bug tight.” Repair or replace torn screens.