West Nile Virus Discovered In Brown County

Last updated on Friday, September 4, 2015

(BROWN CO.) - West Nile Virus has been discovered in two pools of mosquitoes in Brown County, the health department reported.

Health department officials are encouraging residents do the following to remove standing water from around their homes, where mosquitoes could breed:

Empty pots, buckets, drums and bottles outside.
Drain off tarps.
Empty plastic wading pools at least once a week.
Get rid of old tires.
Cover old cisterns, rain barrels and trash containers.
Change the water in bird baths at least once a week and pet dishes once a day.

About 20 percent of people develop a mild infection called West Nile fever from a mosquito infected with West Nile Virus, the health department reported. Common signs and symptoms of West Nile fever include:

Fever
Headache
Body aches
Fatigue
Back pain
Skin rash (occasionally)
Swollen lymph glands (occasionally)
Eye pain (occasionally)

To protect yourself from mosquito bites, the health department suggests the following:

Use mosquito repellent that contains 30-percent DEET for adults, less concentration for children.
Wear long-sleeved tops and long pants.
Spray shrubbery and shaded areas of buildings.
Keep weeds and long grass cut short; mosquitoes rest here in the day.
Keep windows, doors and porches tightly screened.

In less than 1 percent of infected people, the virus causes a serious neurological infection.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

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