The Clinton County Health Department announced today, Sept. 12 that recent surveillance testing for Arboviral, which are viruses transmitted by arthropod vectors, which includes mosquitos, have revealed that West Nile Virus is present and widespread in Clinton County.
The department continued to provide steps and precautions for community members to follow to contain the spread by protecting themselves from mosquito bites:
- Know when to expect mosquito bites. The mosquitoes that transmit disease in Indiana usually bite during the hours from dusk to dawn.
- Wear EPA-registered insect repellents. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone. Not all repellents are effective against both mosquitoes and ticks. The EPA’s helpful search tool can help you find the product that is best for you. Always follow product instructions:
- Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.
- Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children younger than 3 years old.
- Treat your clothes and outdoor gear with 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remains protective through several washings. Permethrin should never be applied directly to the skin.
- Reduce the amount of exposed skin. Wearing long sleeves, long pants, hats, socks and shoes that cover the entire foot will make it more difficult for mosquitoes to bite.
The department further released means of limiting the number of mosquitos indoors and outdoors in the area:
- If possible, use air conditioning rather than leaving your doors and windows open.
- Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outdoors.
- Find and remove possible mosquito breeding sites around your home. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Removing sources of standing water can reduce the number of mosquitoes around your property. This will protect you and your family as well as your neighbors:
- “Tip and toss:” Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that could collect water outdoors, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots and trash containers.
- Tightly cover water storage containers (buckets, cisterns, rain barrels) so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs.
- For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
- If you have a septic tank, repair any cracks or gaps. Cover open vents or plumbing pipes. Use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
Health Department Administrator further released information regarding the symptoms that individuals may experience if they contract West Nile Virus through a mosquito bite.
Most people (about 80%) infected with WNV do not develop any symptoms.
Some people (about 20%) develop a fever and other symptoms. Signs and symptoms of WNV disease usually appear within 2–14 days of a bite from an infected mosquito. These symptoms might include headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with this type of WNV disease recover completely, but some can have persistent fatigue and weakness.
A few people (less than 1%) develop severe illness affecting the nervous system. The most common forms of severe WNV illness include encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord), or paralysis.
People older than 60 years of age are at greater risk of severe illness.
People with compromised immune systems and those with certain medical conditions (e.g., cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease) are also at greater risk of severe illness.
Recovery from severe illness might take months. Some complications might be permanent.
About 10% of people who develop severe WNV illness die.
For more information regarding West Nile Virus, visit in.gov.
