Four cases of West Nile virus have been found in Kentucky this summer: two in Hopkins County and one each in Jefferson and Fayette counties, the state Department for Public Health reported Friday. All were in adults. The number is below the annual average of 10 reported from 2012 to 2016.
All but eight states have reported cases of West Nile in people, horses, birds or mosquitoes this year, the department said. The virus is transmitted by mosquito bites. The Louisville health department recently found West Nile-infected mosquitoes in four Jefferson County ZIP codes (40204, 40205, 40206, 40208, 40212 and 40214), but there have been no other positive reports of mosquitoes with the virus in Kentucky.
“It’s common for us to find mosquitoes infected with West Nile in Louisville around this time each year. What this means is people should take the appropriate precautions, Louisville Health and Wellness Director Sarah Moyer told Darla Carter of The Courier-Journal.
The state health department says four horses have tested positive for West Nile, in Bourbon, Franklin, Hart, and Russell counties. The virus can cause severe illness in horses and certain species of birds, but does not usually affect domestic animals. There is no West Nile vaccine available for people, but several are available for horses, and owners are advised to vaccinate their horses annually.
In most human cases, infected people have no symptoms or show relatively mild symptoms, such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. They typically recover on their own, though symptoms may last several weeks. Fewer than 1 percent will develop a serious illness such as encephalitis or meningitis. People over 50 and those with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and organ transplants, are at greater risk for serious illness if they contract West Nile.
The health department advises Kentuckians to avoid mosquitoes, particularly between dusk and dawn, when the insects are most active. It recommends these precautions:
All but eight states have reported cases of West Nile in people, horses, birds or mosquitoes this year, the department said. The virus is transmitted by mosquito bites. The Louisville health department recently found West Nile-infected mosquitoes in four Jefferson County ZIP codes (40204, 40205, 40206, 40208, 40212 and 40214), but there have been no other positive reports of mosquitoes with the virus in Kentucky.
“It’s common for us to find mosquitoes infected with West Nile in Louisville around this time each year. What this means is people should take the appropriate precautions, Louisville Health and Wellness Director Sarah Moyer told Darla Carter of The Courier-Journal.
The state health department says four horses have tested positive for West Nile, in Bourbon, Franklin, Hart, and Russell counties. The virus can cause severe illness in horses and certain species of birds, but does not usually affect domestic animals. There is no West Nile vaccine available for people, but several are available for horses, and owners are advised to vaccinate their horses annually.
In most human cases, infected people have no symptoms or show relatively mild symptoms, such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. They typically recover on their own, though symptoms may last several weeks. Fewer than 1 percent will develop a serious illness such as encephalitis or meningitis. People over 50 and those with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and organ transplants, are at greater risk for serious illness if they contract West Nile.
The health department advises Kentuckians to avoid mosquitoes, particularly between dusk and dawn, when the insects are most active. It recommends these precautions:
Avoid Mosquito Bites
·
Use insect repellents when you go outdoors.
Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and some oil of lemon eucalyptus
and para-menthane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection. To optimize
safety and effectiveness, repellents should be used according to the label
instructions. More information about insect repellents can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/faq/repellent.html.
·
When weather permits, wear long sleeves, long
pants and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so
spraying clothes with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered
repellent will give extra protection. Don't apply repellents containing
permethrin directly to skin. Do not spray repellent on the skin under your
clothing.
Mosquito-Proof
Your Home
·
Install or repair screens on windows and
doors to keep mosquitoes outside.
·
Help reduce the number of mosquitoes around
your home by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool
covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires and birdbaths on a regular basis.
More
information can be found online at: https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/
or http://www.chfs.ky.gov/dph/epi/westnile.htm.
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