By WKTV Staff
The Kent County Health Department announced last week that ongoing surveillance and testing conducted by the health department has revealed three presumptive positive instances of mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus in the county.
The discovery comes after testing pools of mosquito remains that were trapped in the 49504 and 49525 ZIP Codes in the City of Grand Rapids. But, the county statement advises, “It is important to note that these are not human cases.”
“Discovering these cases in mosquitoes should serve as a reminder to everyone who lives in West Michigan that West Nile Virus season is upon us,” Brendan Earl, supervising sanitarian at Kent County Health Department (KCHD), said in supplied material. “It is important for people to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites as much as possible.”
West Nile Virus is spread primarily by infected Culex mosquitoes. Only about 20 percent of the people infected will notice symptoms that may include headache, body aches, joint pains and fatigue. Most people with this type of West Nile virus completely recover, but fatigue may last for weeks or even months.
About 1 in 150 people infected develop severe illness that can affect the central nervous system. Recovery from this type of West Nile virus may take several months. Some damage to the central nervous system can be permanent. In rare instances the disease can lead to death.
Since there is no vaccine or cure for West Nile, the best treatment is prevention, according to the county statement. KCHD recommends wearing a mosquito repellant that contains 10–35 percent DEET, wearing light colored clothing and staying indoors during dusk.
Residents can also help stop mosquitoes from breeding by removing or refreshing water in bird baths, children’s wading pools, water bowls for your pets. Empty other small containers that can collect water in your yard and keeping your lawn and shrubs trimmed also help.
More information about prevention can be found at accesskent.com.
