West Nile Virus has been detected in Crawford County.
The positive test came from a sample pool of mosquitoes collected Aug. 17 by the Galion City Health Department.
The infected mosquitoes were harvested in the 300 block of South Street in Galion, the city's health department announced Friday on social media.
The positive case of West Nile Virus has caused the city to plan another round of mosquito spraying, according to Matt Echelberry, communications director for the city of Galion.
"Spraying will be done next week," Echelberry said. "Dates are to be announced."
The health department recommends the following steps be taken to reduce your chances of being bitten by an infected mosquito :
- Eliminate any standing water on your property
- Use insect repellant and wear protective clothing
- Repair or replace torn windows and door screens in your home
Mosquitoes are more than just pesky, since they "can spread viruses like West Nile, dengue, Zika, and parasites like malaria," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are symptoms of West Nile Virus in humans?
Many people infected with West Nile Virus don't feel sick, according to a Columbus Dispatch article written by reporter Alex Perry .
Those who do develop symptoms often experience some of the following:
- Headache
- Fever
- Swollen lymph glands
- Skin rash on chest, back, or stomach
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) notes if symptoms develop, it usually happens two to 14 days after an infected mosquito bites someone, Perry reported. More severe cases can include muscle weakness, disorientation, vision loss and paralysis.
"Death from infection with West Nile virus occurs in 10% of those diagnosed with severe illness, but is much higher for patients diagnosed with West Nile virus encephalitis and acute flaccid paralysis," says ODH.
Birds can carry West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus is primarily a concern for birds and horses, according to John Yost, the OSU Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in Wayne County.
More than 250 species of birds can carry the virus. Crows, ravens and blue jays seem to be the most susceptible with 20-60% morality rates.
"Mosquitos serve as the vector that transmits the virus from birds to other hosts, however, there is no threat of transmission from horse to humans or other livestock," Yost wrote in a farming column for The Daily Record in Wooster.
Horses infected with West Nile Virus can display flulike symptoms as well as fever and brain swelling. The virus can be deadly for the animals. Fortunately, there is a vaccine.
Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on the planet
Mosquitoes are responsible for at least 750,000 human deaths annually worldwide , according to the World Health Organization.
Those numbers make mosquitoes the deadliest animal on the planet − humans kill 475,000 other humans each year, snakes 50,000, dogs 25,000 and crocodiles 1,000, the organization reports.
Mosquitoes can breed in standing water that lasts at least seven days, which is why it's important for standing water to be drained as quickly as possible.
A few of the dozens of species of mosquitoes that call Ohio home can even complete their life cycles in less than a week.
They breed in puddles of water, as well as buckets, cups, empty pots, old tires and just about anything else that can hold water.
Eggs can sometimes stay alive even after their puddle of water has been drained, as they are activated again after a new splash of rain again moistens them.
Some species of mosquitoes bite during the day while others bite at dusk and dawn, which is why it is always important for everyone to protect themselves from being bitten.
Wearing light-colored clothing makes a person less attractive to mosquitoes. Long sleeves, pants and socks also inhibit the insects' ability to bite. Mosquito repellent is a helpful deterrent.
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This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: West Nile Virus was discovered in a Crawford County sample pool of mosquitoes
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