West Nile Virus Confirmed in Wayne County

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The mosquito season is coming to an end in Michigan, but residents still face the threat of contracting West Nile Virus.

The Wayne County Department of Health, Veterans and Community Wellness said in a statement that residents should continue to take precautions to minimize mosquito exposure and protect themselves from mosquito bites in order to significantly decrease the chances of contracting the West Nile Virus.

“We want people to enjoy the last weeks of summer but we also want our residents to take the necessary steps to protect themselves against mosquito bites,” said Wayne County Health Officer, Dr. Mouhanad Hammami. “There have been no human cases of the West Nile Virus confirmed this year and we want to keep it that way by advocating for our communities to use these tips to increase safety against mosquitoes, said Hammami.

The following steps can be taken to reduce the risk of mosquito bites:

• Use insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil, lemon eucalyptus, or other EPA-approved active ingredients on skin and/or clothing.
• Limit outdoor activity between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Avoid shaded and wooded areas where mosquitoes may be present.
• Cover up when outdoors. Wear long-sleeve shirts, longs pants, socks, and shoes.

The following measures can be taken to reduce the population of mosquitoes in an area:

• Repair or install window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Eliminate mosquitoes breeding sites around your home. Empty standing water from flower pots, pet bowls, clogged rain gutters, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, cans and similar items.
• Properly dispose of abandoned tires or avoid water accumulation in tires by properly covering.

Throughout the summer, employees of the Wayne County Environmental Health section have been trapping and testing mosquitoes for the West Nile Virus. The principle route of human infection with the virus is through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Last week, for the first time this summer, the routine testing detected a positive sampling of the virus in a pool of mosquitoes found in Redford Township.

According to the Center for Disease Control, most people infected with West Nile Virus will not show symptoms, but about 1 in 5 people will develop flu-like symptoms that may last for weeks. In severe cases, serious neurological illnesses can develop that can be fatal such as encephalitis or meningitis.

More information on West Nile Virus is found here.