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West Nile Virus in Salem mosquito

SALEM –Mosquitoes found in the northwest section of the Salem city limits tested positive for West Nile Virus, prompting the city health district to issue a warning Thursday for all residents to protect themselves against mosquitoes, their bite and the diseases they may carry.

“Be mindful until the first frost,” Salem City Health Commissioner Lynle Hayes said.

That’s when she said the cold temperatures should kill off any mosquito populations in the area.

No human cases of West Nile Virus or other mosquito-borne diseases have been reported in the city or in Columbiana County, but there have been 23 cases of West Nile Virus and 17 cases of LaCrosse encephalitis virus across the state, including three West Nile cases in Stark County and one in Trumbull County. There have been 17 cases of West Nile in horses in other counties.

There’s actually a vaccine for horses to protect them from West Nile, but no vaccine for humans.

Hayes wouldn’t reveal the exact location where the infected mosquito was captured in Salem due to privacy concerns for the property owner, but said the trapping occurred last week. She explained the city health district used a trap provided to the Columbiana County General Health District by the Ohio Department of Health as part of their mosquito surveillance.

The city health department’s environmental director Alan Masters initially set up the first trap next to the health department at the KSU City Center, but found no positives during testing of the mosquitoes caught. She said the positive case occurred with the second or third trap, this time in the northwest area of the city. The samples are frozen and sent to the state’s lab for testing, then the results are sent to Columbiana County, which in this case then notified the city.

When asked if any spraying was done in the affected area, Hayes said they could do an air spray, but it isn’t very effective. The best way is to attack the larvae. The property owner was given some advice on what to do, and Hayes said a common theme with all the places where mosquitoes have tested positive in the county was pine trees with water nearby. Positive cases for tested mosquitoes have been in Lisbon, too.

One area where people may not even think about mosquitoes hanging out would be holes in trees where water can puddle, she said.

According to a press release she issued, there are many precautions residents can take in an effort to lessen their chances of contracting a mosquito-borne disease such as West Nile Virus, by keeping themselves from being bitten, eliminating havens where mosquitoes can breed and keeping mosquitoes at bay.

The press release said residents should take the following precautions:

— wear clothing treated with permethrin or other Environmental Protection Agency-registered repellents for extra protection

— apply EPA-registered repellents on exposed skin

— keep window and door screens closed and in good repair to keep mosquitoes out

— empty standing water from flower pots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires, bird baths, children’s toys

— empty standing water from any other debris or items where water can pool

— empty containers that fill with water at least once a week

— change the water in bird baths every week

— keep gutters clean

— fix outdoor leaking faucets

— clean ditches so water can flow

— fill holes that hold water with gravel or dirt

— keep outdoor areas free of clutter and debris; recycle or discard items no longer being used

— consider using products containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) to control mosquito larvae in containers too large to empty out, available at garden and home improvement stores.

Hayes noted that most people with mosquito-borne viruses show no symptoms, but people over 50 years of age and children under the age of 16 are the ones more likely to develop a severe illness from the disease. Symptoms can include body aches, fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, confusion, weakness, stiffness and convulsions. Coma and paralysis can occur in some cases and some cases can be fatal.

The symptoms are similar to the flu, which isn’t likely to occur in summer, so that could indicate something else is wrong that needs checked out, she said. People who suspect West Nile should share information with their doctor about where they’ve been, especially an area where West Nile may be prevalent or the conditions are right for mosquitoes.

According to ODH, only a healthcare provider can diagnose a case of West Nile Virus, with either a blood or cerebrospinal fluid sample sent for testing.

Hayes said they’re coming to the end of the surveillance season for the mosquitoes and probably won’t be sending any more mosquito samples to the state. Until it gets cold, though, she said all residents in the area need to be vigilant and take precautions.

For more information, contact the city health department at 330-332-1618 or visit the Ohio Department of Health website at ohio.gov/mosquito.

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