Explanation of the main symptoms of West Nile virus
West Nile virus is the most common cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States, with the highest concentration in the Midwest. Here’s how to tell if you’re infected.
USA TODAY
The West Nile virus was recently detected in mosquitoes in a northern suburb of Cincinnati.
The Springdale Health Department announced Monday that it had discovered the virus in a cluster of mosquitoes it collected on July 30. The sample was collected in the northwest quadrant of the city near the intersection of Glensprings Drive and Springfield Pike, which is south of Interstate 275.
Related: Why do mosquito bites itch? What you should know about these blood-sucking insects
Most people bitten by a mosquito infected with West Nile virus develop no symptoms or have only a very mild reaction consisting of flu-like symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 150 cases results in severe, sometimes fatal illness. Older people and people with weakened immune systems are at increased risk for symptoms.
Because mosquitoes breed in standing water, residents should drain standing water, protect bodies of water that cannot be drained immediately with mosquito repellent, cover exposed skin outdoors, and keep doors and windows closed unless they are equipped with fly screens.
Health officials also advised limiting outdoor activities during dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active, and using government-approved mosquito repellents.
In mid-July, the Cincinnati Health Department discovered mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus in the Bond Hill and Madisonville neighborhoods. According to health officials, the last confirmed case of West Nile in a Cincinnati resident was in 2012.
