First Case Of West Nile Virus Found In Lake County This Year

The Lake County General Health District has confirmed one positive mosquito pool for West Nile Virus in Lake County.

The pool -- which is a collection of no more than 50 mosquitoes -- tested positive on June 12. It is located on the border of Mentor and Painesville.

It is likely that positive WNV mosquitoes are present throughout the county and will likely increase for the rest of the summer, the health district said.

Over the years, .

Due to the lack of rain and extreme heat so far this summer, the local mosquito population appears to be smaller from last year’s population levels.

Despite this, the types of mosquitoes that may be infected with WNV can increase from normal levels, as they are more resistant to drought conditions and more readily spread the virus within the resident bird population, which serves as the host for WNV.

Last year, there was one WNV case in Lake County and 21 throughout the state (including a fatal one,) according to the health district.

Five human West Nile Virus cases were reported in Ohio during 2010, none of which were from Lake County.

The district added that West Nile Virus is endemic, meaning "common," in Lake County and Ohio since 2001 and will continue to be a long-term public health threat.

Here are ways to reduce the risk of West Nile Virus from LCGHD:

• Dispose of tin cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools, plastic covers or other containers that collect and hold water.
• Keep roof gutters unclogged. Clean gutters in the spring and fall.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs. Keep them covered when empty.
• Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels and potted trays at least once a week, if not more often.
• Fill or drain puddles, ditches, and swampy areas and either remove, drain or fill tree holes and stumps with mortar.
• Contact LCGHD with concerns about malfunctioning septic systems.
• Eliminate standing water around animal watering troughs.
• Irrigate lawns and gardens carefully to prevent water from standing for several days.
• Avoid being outside from dusk until dawn. If you cannot avoid those times, use a repellent. Use an insect repellent containing 10 percent or fewer DEET (N, N-diethyl-methyl-meta-tolumide) for children and no more than 30 percent DEET for adults. Use repellents containing DEET according to label instructions.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks if you go outside when mosquitoes are most active, which is from dusk until dawn.
• Make sure window and door screens are “bug tight.” Repair or replace torn screens.
• Replace outdoor lights with yellow “bug lights.”
• Call the LCGHD if you have a concern about standing water that may be breeding mosquitoes. If it is on private property, permission is needed to enter the property.

Birds act as a host of West Nile Virus, and then mosquitoes become infected by feeding on them. But due to ODH budget cuts, dead birds are no longer being collected and tested for the virus.

Residents may report dead bird locations by calling LCGHD at 440-350-2543. These reports will be mapped to document potential virus activity.