By HOLLY GASKILL
In a recent Indiana Department of Health test, a sample of mosquitoes from Wells County tested positive for West Nile virus.
ISDH had taken multiple samples throughout the county, one of which tested positive. Ryan Bennett, Wells County environmental health specialist, said the Health Department received no additional information regarding the location or the specific amount of mosquitoes that tested positive.
Jeni O’Malley, ISDH director of public affairs, said location information about the sample is not public information because it may have come from private property.
“What is more important is that the presence of positive mosquitoes at any location in a county indicates that West Nile virus activity is occurring in a county and residents should take steps to prevent mosquito bites,” O’Malley said.
Wells County is marked yellow on the ISDH’s website, meaning anywhere between one and four mosquitoes tested positive in their sample. Neighboring Huntington, Blackford and Jay counties are also marked yellow. Allen County is listed as orange, having five or more positive mosquitoes in their sampling.
There have been two human cases of West Nile virus this summer in Indiana — one in Sullivan County and the other in Floyd County.
West Nile virus transmits to humans through mosquito bites. While many people will exhibit few or no symptoms, those over 50 years old or who are immunocompromised may experience more severe illness.
Symptoms of West Nile virus include fever, headache, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting and sore joints, usually occurring 3-15 days after being bitten. More severe infections can occur and may cause permanent neurological damage or death.
Because many of these symptoms overlap with the common cold or COVID-19, Bennett encouraged people to consider their risk as they monitor symptoms. If an individual has been outside often and has been bitten, they may want to contact their local health provider.
Bennett said to reduce the risk of infection, avoid outdoor activity from dusk until dawn. When outside, he said it’s best to wear long sleeve shirts and pants and use EPA-registered insect repellent.
To prevent mosquitoes, Bennett advised residents to review their outdoor surroundings. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, which may collect in bird baths, garbage cans, flower pots or other outdoor items. The risk of breeding mosquitoes can be minimized by routinely changing or draining water from these areas.
“We just want to let the public be aware — this is the first time that anything has tested positive this summer, and testing began back in May,” Bennett said. “We’ve made it quite a ways without any positive cases. So, let’s just be aware, and watch what we do. Keep in mind that it’s out there and just take every precaution that you can.”
holly@news-banner.com
