The Vinton County Health Department (VCHD) announced on Friday, July 25, that a positive West Nile Virus mosquito pool has been detected within the county.
“This pool was part of the department’s regular surveillance activities in Clinton Township, and was collected on July 11,” VCHD reported. “Our Environmental Health Division will be treating the area near South Elementary School.”
The Health Department shared that no human cases have been reported. Additionally, they advised that residents should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, including eliminating potential breeding sites around their homes in order to prevent mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile Virus.
The VCHD reminded that “the primary way people get West Nile Virus is through the bite of an infected mosquito. Most people who become infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Less than one percent of infected people develop a serious neurologic illness, such as encephalitis or meningitis [inflammation of the brain or surrounding tissues].”
VCHD further noted that there are no medications to treat or vaccines to prevent West Nile Virus infection. Mosquitoes can live indoors and outdoors, and some types bite during the day while others bite at dusk and dawn.
VCHD offered the public the following tips to avoid mosquito bites:
Learn more about mosquitoes and West Nile Virus on the VCHD website at http://www.vintonohhealth.org. Members of the public can also stop in at VCHD to pick up mosquito dunks to deal with standing water or to pick up mosquito repellent.
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