Mosquitoes In Kosciusko County Test Positive For West Nile Virus
August 20, 2024 at 12:59 p.m.
Mosquitoes in Kosciusko County have tested positive for West Nile Virus for the first time in 2024, according to a news release from the Kosciusko County Health Department.
Health officials are urging Hoosiers to take precautions to protect themselves against mosquito-borne diseases.
"Mosquitoes in Indiana can spread several different viruses, including West Nile Virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis and La Crosse Encephalitis," said Jennifer House, DVM, veterinary epidemiologist at the Indiana Department of Health. "All of these viruses have the potential to cause serious illness."
Hoosiers should take precautions to avoid being bitten. These include:
• Wearing long sleeves/long pants.
• Using insect repellent on any exposed skin.
• Avoiding wooded or marshy areas, especially at dusk or dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Maintain windows and screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
Additionally, residents can help eliminate mosquito breeding opportunities by:
• Removing/emptying any containers that hold standing water.
• Repairing failing septic systems.
• Removing old tires.
• Periodically flushing out bird baths or ornamental fountains.
• Cleaning gutters.
• Keeping grass short and shrubbery trimmed.
Mosquitoes in Kosciusko County have tested positive for West Nile Virus for the first time in 2024, according to a news release from the Kosciusko County Health Department.
Health officials are urging Hoosiers to take precautions to protect themselves against mosquito-borne diseases.
"Mosquitoes in Indiana can spread several different viruses, including West Nile Virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis and La Crosse Encephalitis," said Jennifer House, DVM, veterinary epidemiologist at the Indiana Department of Health. "All of these viruses have the potential to cause serious illness."
Hoosiers should take precautions to avoid being bitten. These include:
• Wearing long sleeves/long pants.
• Using insect repellent on any exposed skin.
• Avoiding wooded or marshy areas, especially at dusk or dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Maintain windows and screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
Additionally, residents can help eliminate mosquito breeding opportunities by:
• Removing/emptying any containers that hold standing water.
• Repairing failing septic systems.
• Removing old tires.
• Periodically flushing out bird baths or ornamental fountains.
• Cleaning gutters.
• Keeping grass short and shrubbery trimmed.