Colorado sees year’s first human case of West Nile in Mesa County

According to Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, there are several measures residents can take to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

So far this year, no human cases have been confirmed in the state, but 31 counties have detected virus activity.

The first discovered instance of a mosquito bearing the West Nile virus this year has been reported in Erie County.

In Twin Falls County, the district is actively treating all standing water to reduce those numbers, even if those tests have come back negative for the virus.

The City of Van Wert Street Department did begin spraying for mosquitoes to try to help control the breeding of mosquitoes after the flooding.

The first D is for DEET, which is to remind people to apply insect repellant containing ingredients such as DEET, picaradin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535, which all can keep mosquitoes from biting people, health department officials said. The state’s most active year for West Nile virus was 2009 with 38 human cases.

Some people will have chronic problems after they have been ill with West Nile virus.

The majority of people infected with West Nile Virus will show no symptoms, while about 20 percent will display mild symptoms, such as fever, body aches and nausea. “In order to prevent human cases, it’s important for each person to take precaution”. Make sure you use follow the directions on the product labels. Dress with trousers and long sleeved shirts during both dawn and dusk if outside or in areas that are now to have a greater activity of mosquitoes.

Boze said technicians treat the affected pools with a strain of soil bacteria that targets just mosquitoes but stays in the water a few days longer than other product for larvae.

“The recent rainfall will result in an increase in the mosquito species responsible for spreading the virus within the bird population”.

– Contact them if pertinent information has been found using the blue pages of the phone book.