West Nile detected in MI early this year

The commission works to combat West Nile Virus and nuisance mosquitoes through spraying at night, eliminating abandoned pools with standing water and educating the community. So far in 2016, West Nile virus has been detected in southern Washington state adjacent to the Columbia River.

In that area, that virus and West Nile are carried by the same mosquito species, southern house mosquitoes or Culex quinquefasciatus and the western encephalitis mosquito or Culex tarsalis.

Last year, West Nile was blamed for two deaths in MI, and an untold number of illnesses.

The Departments of Health and Environmental Protection issued strong recommendations for all Pennsylvania residents to take precautions and minimize their risk of getting bitten by virus-carrying mosquitoes. About one in five people who are infected with WNV will develop a fever with other flu-like symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the department said the person has “West Nile neuroinvasive disease”, which is a more serious form of the disease that affects the nervous system.

So while the Fourth of July weekend is all about spending time outdoors, it’s important to remember that those pesky mosquitoes can be a danger as well as a nuisance. Limit exposure by wearing trousers and long sleeves in the evening.

Stay indoors at dawn and dusk, which is when mosquitoes are the most active.

The West Nile virus spreads by mosquitoes and birds are the primary infected animals.

Use EPA-registered insect repellents that are labeled as effective against mosquitoes.

To protect the home, use screens on doors and windows. If necessary, adult mosquito populations will be reduced.

Get rid of standing water, and drain areas where water can pool: rain gutters, wading pools, old tires, etc. This is where mosquitoes breed.

“The trap actually is a fan that sits over some disgusting water, organic stuff that makes it smell good for the mosquitoes, and then basically the fan blows them up into a net”, said Fledderjohn.