The first human case of West Nile in Indiana has been reported by officials. Near Chicago in Lake County, there was a reported case.
Not one of the fifteen counties where mosquitoes tested positive for the virus is in the Wabash Valley, according to the Indiana Department of Health.
“Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance—their bites can potentially lead to serious illness,” State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP stated. “Hoosiers can reduce their risk by wearing bug repellent and taking steps to remove breeding sites, like standing water in discarded tires or other containers around their residences.”
As per the state, below are some effective methods to avoid contracting the virus:
- Apply insect repellant. Follow the directions on the package when applying EPA-registered insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone.
- Put on safety gear. Put on long sleeve shirts and loose-fitting slacks. Think about applying a permethrin treatment to clothing and equipment (note: permethrin products should not be applied directly to the skin).
In addition, the following actions should be taken by homeowners, landlords, and property managers to keep mosquitoes under control both indoors and outside:
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- Put screens on doors and windows and maintain them in excellent working order.
- Look for anything that could hold water, such as flowerpot saucers, birdbaths, tires, buckets, toys, pools, or trash cans.
- Keep mosquitoes away from any containers. This can be accomplished by emptying the garbage, bringing in objects that aren’t in use, covering or toppling them, cutting holes in the bottom of trash cans, attaching screens to rain barrels, filling pet bowls with fresh water every day, and flushing birdbaths, fountains, and other containers at least once a week.
- Keep your landscaping and homes in good shape. This include routinely cleaning gutters, maintaining shrubs and grass clipped, repairing septic systems, and adding fish to ornamental pools to make them more predatory.
