INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Department of Health issued a public health alert this week about an increase in potential West Nile virus cases from mosquitos.
As of July 15, only one human case of West Nile virus had been confirmed in Marion County this year – however, mosquitos in Marion, Hamilton, Jennings and Benton counties had all tested positive for the virus.
“Each year, we see people become ill with West Nile virus as a result of mosquito bites,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Jerome Adams. ”Finding the virus in mosquitoes from multiple counties means that the risk is starting to increase statewide. I urge all Hoosiers to protect themselves from bites, which will protect against West Nile and other viruses transmitted by mosquitoes.”
In addition to West Nile, 12 Indiana residents have brought cases of the Zika virus back from places like Haiti, Honduras, Puerto Rico and Jamaica. No mosquitos in the state have tested positive for Zika.
The Centers for Disease Control announced Thursday that Indiana had been awarded $766,000 to fight the Zika virus. The money will support epidemiological surveillance and improvements to mosquito control and monitoring.
Health officials say the best way to avoid mosquito-borne diseases is to eliminate all standing water on your property and wear mosquito repellant when out in the early morning and evening.
