Second Ross County Pool of Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile Virus

Chillicothe, OH – A pool of mosquitos captured from Green Township, Ross County, have tested positive for West Nile Virus. This confirmation was received by Ross County Health District’s Director of Environmental Health, Kelly Spindler, and Health Commissioner Janelle McManis by the Ohio Department of Health. This is the second positive result for West Nile Virus in Ross County mosquitos this season. No human cases have been reported.
The Ross County Health District urges everyone to take the following actions to stay healthy and bite-free:

  1. Dump out standing water around the home weekly.
  2. Dress in long pants and long sleeves whenever possible.
  3. Defend by using insect repellent containing any one of the following CDC-recommended ingredients: Picaridin, DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus (or PMD), or IR3535.

About West Nile Virus According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), West Nile virus (WNV) is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Eight out of ten individuals infected with the WNV, will not exhibit symptoms. But, about one in five will develop symptoms that include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, or skin rash. The symptoms can last for several days to months. One in 150 people infected with the virus develop severe symptoms including convulsions, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis and possibly death. People over 60 years of age and those with chronic health problems are at higher risk of severe illness. There is no vaccine for West Nile virus and no specific treatment for West Nile virus infection. While not all mosquitoes carry this virus, the type of mosquito that spreads this virus is found throughout Ross County.

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About the Ross County Health District
The Ross County Health District (RCHD), founded in 1979, is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board that works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Ross County. RCHD is governed by a seven-member board of health and consists of four divisions: Public Health Nursing, Environmental Health, Health Promotion, and Quality Improvement, and Administration. Learn more about the Ross County Health District at RossCountyHealth.org. For more information, please contact Sara Smith at sksmith@RossCountyHealth.org