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The potentially dangerous West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in Bartholomew County for the first time this year, county health officials said.
The presence of the virus, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, was confirmed in a mosquito sample collected July 9 in the northeast quarter of Bartholomew County, said Matthew Galbraith, chief environmental health specialist at the Bartholomew County Health Department.
State health officials tested the sample and confirmed the positive result for the virus on Friday.
West Nile virus is the most commonly reported mosquito-borne disease in Indiana, according to the Indiana Department of Health. While most people who become infected with the potentially fatal virus do not develop any symptoms, some people can cause severe illness such as inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, and in some cases, death.
As of last month, a total of 26 samples from 15 counties had tested positive for the virus so far this year. State health officials announced the first confirmed human case of the virus last month in Lake County.
“Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance—their bites can potentially lead to serious illness,” said Indiana State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver in a statement last month. “Hoosiers can reduce their risk by wearing bug repellent and taking steps to remove breeding sites, like standing water in discarded tires or other containers around their residences.”
The Indiana Department of Health expects to see additional West Nile virus cases as the mosquito season progresses. Taking precautions against mosquito bites can reduce the risk of disease caused by mosquito-borne viruses.
Locally, county health officials said they plan to spray insecticide specifically developed for mosquitoes and conduct surveillance.
“This department tracks areas that traditionally hold water,” Galbraith said. “These areas are inspected by our technicians, if mosquito larvae are found, then the water is treated with an appropriate larvacide to eliminate the larvae before they can become adult mosquitoes. The final area of mosquito control is adulticiding. This department will treat areas to kill adult mosquitoes using a truck-mounted ULV machine to dispense the appropriate concentration of adulticide.
State health officials recommend that all Hoosiers take the following steps to prevent mosquito-borne diseases:
- Use insect repellent. Apply EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone according to the label instructions.
- Wear protective clothing. Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants. Consider treating clothing and gear with a permethrin product (note: permethrin products should not be applied directly to the skin).
Furthermore, homeowners, landlords, and property managers should take the following steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors:
Install screens on windows and doors and keep them in good repair.
- Look for containers that could hold water such as trash, tires, buckets, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, or trash containers.
- Prevent mosquitoes from accessing containers. This can be done by removing trash; moving items indoors; covering or overturning items not in use; drilling holes in the bottom of trash containers; installing screens on rain barrels; replacing water in pet bowls daily; and flushing birdbaths, fountains, and other containers at least once a week.
- Maintain properties and landscaping in good condition. This includes regularly servicing septic systems, keeping grass mowed and shrubs trimmed, cleaning gutters regularly, and aerating ornamental pools or stocking them with predatory fish.
