INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana State Department of Health is urging Hoosiers to take precautions when spending time outdoors after mosquitoes in three counties have tested positive for West Nile Virus.
Although no human cases have been detected so far in 2020, mosquitoes in Marion, Allen and St. Joseph counties have all tested positive for the virus. ISDH has been warning Hoosiers about increased mosquito activity this year and they say they expect to see increased West Nile activity throughout the state as the mosquito season progresses.
West Nile virus can cause West Nile fever. Symptoms of West Nile fever can include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Body aches
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Rash
Another mosquito-borne disease ISDH is asking Hoosiers to be cautious about is eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE). Although no cases have been detected so far in 2020, the outbreak in Indiana last year did result in one human and 14 horse fatalities. While rare, EEE can cause serious illness and has a fatality rate around 33% in humans. Many who recover from the virus experience permanent complications.
Symptoms of EEE can include:
- Chills
- Fever
- Body Aches
- Joint Pain
“While spending time outside can reduce your risk for COVID-19, it can increase your risk for mosquito-borne diseases,” said State Health Commissioner Kristina Box, M.D., FACOG. “Hoosiers in all parts of the state should take precautions to prevent mosquito bites whenever they are outdoors.”
State health officials recommend the following preventive measures:
- Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are active (especially late afternoon, dusk to dawn and early morning);
- Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol to clothes and exposed skin;
- Cover exposed skin by wearing a hat, long sleeves and long pants in places where mosquitoes are especially active, such as wooded areas;
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of the home.
Even a container as small as a bottle cap can become a mosquito breeding ground, so residents should take the following steps to eliminate potential breeding grounds:
- Discard old tires, tin cans, ceramic pots or other containers that can hold water;
- Repair failed septic systems;
- Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers left outdoors;
- Keep grass cut short and shrubbery trimmed;
- Clean clogged roof gutters, particularly if leaves tend to plug up the drains;
- Frequently replace the water in pet bowls;
- Flush ornamental fountains and birdbaths periodically; and,
- Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with predatory fish.
