MIAMI TWP., Ohio — Clermont County Public Health announced Friday that a mosquito trapped in Paton Ramsey Park in Miami Twp. tested positive for West Nile Virus.
This is not the first time this year West Nile Virus has been detected in mosquitoes in the Tri-State. In July, mosquitoes trapped on Union Cemetery Road in Symmes Townshipalso tested positive for the virus.
Clermont County Public Health has tested and trapped mosquitoes at several different sites in the county throughout the summer, according to a press release. They said they have trapped and tested 1,895 mosquitoes in the area in 2019.
More than 425,000 mosquitoes have been tested from samples collected statewide; 150 of these have tested positive for West Nile Virus in Ohio.
"We start to see an increase in mosquito activity in our area during late summer,” said Clermont County assistant health commissioner Tim Kelly in a press release. “West Nile Virus is nothing new or nothing to be alarmed about, but we like to remind everyone to protect themselves and avoid mosquito bites when they’re outside."
The West Nile virus affects the central nervous system, and can be transmitted to humans directly by mosquitoes. Most people bitten by an infected mosquito will never become sick, or show symptoms. However, up to 20 percent of people who become infected may have symptoms such as fever, headaches, body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a rash.
Less than one percent of people infected with the West Nile virus develop severe symptoms, but those symptoms can last several weeks and neurological effects can become permanent.
Residents over the age of 50 have the highest risk of developing severe infections, and anyone experiencing similar symptoms should contact a healthcare provider for evaluation.
To prevent mosquitoes in your area, the Health Department suggests the following steps:
DRAIN:
- Look for and drain sources of standing water on your property – litter, tires, buckets, flower pots, wading pools and similar items that could create standing water and become mosquito breeding sites.
- Frequently change water in bird baths and pet bowls.
- Drain small puddles after heavy rainstorms.
DUNK:
- Apply mosquito larvicide, sometimes called mosquito “dunks,” to areas of standing water that cannot be drained. The “dunks” are environmentally safe and won’t harm pets. Purchase them at your local hardware store.
PROTECT:
- Cut your grass and trim shrubbery.
- Make sure screens in windows and doors are tight-fitting and free from defect.
- Wear long sleeves and pants during peak mosquito hours – dawn and dusk.
- Use an EPA-registered insect repellent such as those containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon or eucalyptus. Always follow the directions on the package.
