Amid rainy summer, Ohio urges precautions against mosquitoes

West Nile Virus is carried by various types of mosquitoes and is spread when they bite humans and animals.

Ohio Medical Director Dr. Mary DiOrio said while mosquitoes are less plentiful than the West Nile virus outbreak years of 2002 and 2012, the little biters are making their presence known. Four Corners tests mosquitoes each summer throughout its service area, which includes Butler, Polk, Seward and York counties. People falling ill due to WNV can suffer from a series of mild symptoms like body aches, headaches, fever, swelling of lymph glands, and/or skin rash.

In 2014 there were a record number of deaths from West Nile virus in California, with 31 fatalities, and 561 cases of the West Nile neuroinvasive disease, which is the more serious neurological form of the disease often resulting in encephalitis or meningitis.

She observes that most people who contract West Nile don’t show symptoms, but it can severely affect people with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses.

Ohio is experiencing a rise in mosquitoes this summer because of recent heavy rains and residents should take precautions to avoid mosquito-borne illnesses, Ohio Department of Health officials report.

“These are not the typical floodwater mosquitoes you see after it rains”. There have been no reported human cases of the virus in Mesquite or elsewhere in Dallas County.

Remove temporary pools of water around your house and yard.

Workers are treating breeding areas.

Previous year there were 379 human cases of the virus in Texas – more than the double the 183 cases in 2013.

Wear long, loose, light-colored clothing.

Install or fix screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside.

They also told that stagnant water should not be allowed in pool covers, birdbaths, containers and flower pots etc.

· Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.

Zenivex E4, the chemical used for local fogging operations, is an EPA-approved, reduced-risk insecticide, according to county vector control district manager Denise Bonilla, so it’s safe for residents to venture outside during the spraying.