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West Nile Virus in Ohio
The Ohio Department of Health will continue to monitor West Nile Virus (WNV) cases in humans across the state and report these to CDC.
Between 2002 and 2012, the public health laboratory at ODH would accept mosquito samples from local health departments, sort those mosquitoes and test them for vectorborne diseases such as West Nile Virus. In 2012, only 26 of the 125 health jurisdictions actually submitted mosquitoes for testing.
As federal funds have been eliminated ODH can no longer support that testing. However, this is expected to have a minimal impact on the state as WNV is now indigenous- meaning we know WNV will be found in Ohio every summer.
Whether or not a pool of mosquitoes near your home has been identified as WNV-positive, you should always take precaution to protect yourself and your family against mosquito bites.
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Ohio WNV Surveillance 2000-2012
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2000
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2001*
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2002**
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2003
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2004
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2005
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2006
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2007
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2008
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2009
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2010
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2011
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2012
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TOTAL
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Human Cases
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0
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0
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441
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108
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12
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61
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48
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23
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15
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2
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5
|
21
|
121
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857
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Fatalities
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0
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0
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31
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8
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2
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2
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4
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3
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1
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0
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0
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1
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7
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59
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|
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|
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|
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Mosquitoes Submitted
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32,885
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104,694
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198,253
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535,092
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426,598
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397,611
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469,713
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274,297
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449,630
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293,445
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332,760
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303,937
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187,309
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# Counties
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n/a
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56
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67
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55
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52
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45
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41
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34
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36
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24
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23
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23
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17
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# Agencies
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41
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55
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81
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81
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64
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60
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56
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49
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45
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32
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30
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34
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26
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# Mosquitoes tested
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31,982
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90,948
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184,193
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488,033
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398,832
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390,010
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443,399
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252,195
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388,149
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278,677
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316,623
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290,840
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180,252
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# Mosquito pools tested
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994
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2,636
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8,092
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19,663
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14,202
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14,705
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15,300
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8,240
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11,017
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8,413
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8,843
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8,472
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6,332
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# Positive pools
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0
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26
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1,955
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799
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874
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1,373
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909
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325
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381
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243
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260
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586
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1,218
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% Positive pools
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0
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1.0
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24.2
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4.1
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6.2
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9.3
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5.9
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3.9
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3.5
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2.9
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2.9
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6.9
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19.2
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Dead birds tested
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n/a
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942
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1,662
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1,265
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2,164
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925
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1,393
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115
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98
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0
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0
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0
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0
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# Positive dead birds
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n/a
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280
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866
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175
|
80
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73
|
81
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22
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14
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0
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0
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0
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0
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% Positive
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n/a
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29.7
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52.1
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13.8
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3.7
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7.9
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5.8
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19.1
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14.3
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n/a
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n/a
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n/a
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n/a
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Horses Tested
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n/a
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969
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1,308
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327
|
145
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84
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37
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51
|
39
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6
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35
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n/a
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n/a
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# Positive Horses
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n/a
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0
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645
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106
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9
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15
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12
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2
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0
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0
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7
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3
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12
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% Positives
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n/a
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0.0
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49.3
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32.4
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6.2
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17.9
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32.4
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3.9
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0.0
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0.0
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20.0
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n/a
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n/a
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* 2001 - first positive birds, mosquitoes
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** 2002 - first positive humans
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The easiest and best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito bites.
- When you are outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient. Follow the directions on the package.
- Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants at these times or consider staying indoors during these hours.
- Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
- Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren't being used.
What Are the Symptoms of WNV?
Serious Symptoms in a Few People. About one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.
Milder Symptoms in Some People. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks.
No Symptoms in Most People. Approximately 80 percent of people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all.
If You Think You Have WNV
People typically develop symptoms between 3 and 14 days after they are bitten by the infected mosquito. Milder WNV illness improves on its own, and people do not necessarily need to seek medical attention for this infection though they may choose to do so. If you develop symptoms of severe WNV illness, such as unusually severe headaches or confusion, seek medical attention immediately. Severe WNV illness usually requires hospitalization. Pregnant women and nursing mothers are encouraged to talk to their doctor if they develop symptoms that could be WNV.
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