INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indiana officials have reported the first case of West Nile in a person in the state.
The case was found in Lake County, which is close to Chicago.
The Indiana Department of Health says that mosquitoes in 15 counties have tested positive for the virus. Not a single one of those counties is in the Wabash Valley.
State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP, said, “Mosquitoes are more than just a bother—their bites could cause serious illness.” “People in Indiana can lower their risk by using bug spray and getting rid of places where bugs can breed, like old tires or other containers that hold water, that are near their homes.”
The state says the following are some of the best ways to avoid getting the virus:
- Spray bug spray on it. Follow the directions on the package for EPA-registered insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone.
- Wear clothes that protect you. Clothes that don’t fit too tightly and long sleeves should be worn. You might want to use a permethrin
- product to treat your clothes and gear (keep in mind that you shouldn’t put them directly on your skin).
- Also, to get rid of mosquitoes inside and outside, renters, landlords, and property managers should do the following:
- Put screens on doors and windows and make sure they stay in good shape.
- Look for things like trash cans, tires, buckets, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, or trash cans that can hold water.
- Keep bugs from getting into containers. To do this, take out the trash, move things inside, cover or flip things that aren’t being used, drill holes in the bottom of trash cans, put screens on rain barrels, fill up pet bowls with water every day, and flush birdbaths, fountains, and other containers at least once a week.
- Keep your properties and grounds in good shape. This includes maintaining septic systems regularly, cutting the grass and bushes back, cleaning the gutters regularly, and adding air to decorative pools or putting predatory fish in them.