Public health officials urge people to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites and the diseases they may carry. There have been no human cases in Butler County, officials said.
West Nile virus is a disease that affects the central nervous system. It can be passed from mosquitoes to humans. Symptoms of West Nile virus include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash and body aches.
Erin Smiley, BCGHD’s heath promotion director, told this news outlet Wednesday that BCGHD treated a pond in Madison Twp. this July with mosquito “dunks” after mosquitoes there tested positive for carrying West Nile virus.
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“It’s important to emphasize that mosquito dunks are not poison,” Smiley said. “Dunks are a larvicide that kill mosquito eggs before they hatch. They do not kill mosquitoes adults and are harmless to birds, fish, wildlife and pets.”
Additionally, BCGHD provided mosquito dunks to distribute to residents of Madison Twp. to treat standing water on their properties, she said. It contacted the township and the schools within the area to send notices out to extracurricular activities, including sporting events, about wearing EPA-registered insect repellents while outdoors. Screen repair kits and educational materials were also delivered and made available to residents.
The same steps are being implemented in Wayne Twp with no difference in actions, Smiley said.
“While the public does not need to panic, now is a good time to focus on prevention,” said Jennifer Bailer, health commissioner for Butler County. “Help the county eliminate sources of standing water on your property to prevent mosquito eggs from hatching and developing into biting adults that spread the disease.”
It’s not unusual to have positive mosquitoes as the summer progresses, according to Carrie Yeager, BCGHD’s environmental health director.
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“As the summer heat fades, the number of mosquitoes testing positive decreases,” Yeager said.
Surrounding counties also have identified positive mosquito pools including Clermont and Hamilton County. Last year, the Ohio Department of Health reported 65 cases of West Nile virus in humans, including six deaths.
Lori Landis, nursing director for the department, said “taking simple precautions like using bug spray and wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors can prevent potentially serious diseases caused by the bite of infected mosquito.”
Those precautions include:
• Drain standing water
• Change the water in the birdbaths and wading pools daily
• Maintain window screens
• Use EPA-registered insect repellents
• Report abnormal dead bird sightings to BCGHD by calling 513-863-1770, as West Nile virus has been detected in a variety of bird species, especially crows and jays.
• Take advantage of the free “dunks” that BCGHD provides to residents. Dunks kill mosquito larvae, but are harmless to birds, fish, wildlife, and pets. For more information call 513-863-1770.
To learn more about West Nile virus and mosquito prevention visit health.bcohio.us and www.ohio.gov/mosquitos.
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