Last week, the West Nile Virus was detected in mosquito traps set by the Jefferson County health department.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, West Nile Virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental U-S. There are no vaccines to prevent it and no medications to treat it. West Nile has not been found in Lexington this summer, according to Luke Mathis, the environmental health team leader for the Fayette County Health Department. He said each week, they put out six or seven mosquito traps around the county.
“Really what we do is we're trying to see the number of mosquitos we actually count the number of mosquitos that we trap and we have a sprayer, a truck-mounted sprayer. And if any of the areas that we hit a certain threshold of mosquito numbers, then we would spray the area.”
According to the CDC, West Nile Virus can also be carried by birds bitten by infected mosquitos, or birds that eat sick or dead birds infected with the virus. Mathis said the disease is also a threat to horses.
“It’s a big concern for the equine industry. Horses, like people can be a reservoir for West Nile.”
The CDC says most people infected with West Nile Virus don’t feel sick. About 1 in 5 develop a fever and other symptoms, and 1 in 150 become very ill and sometimes die. Mathis said there are steps people can take to decrease their chances of being bit by mosquitos. If windows are left open, they should have screens, while outdoor steps may require … a few steps.
“If you can eliminate the standing water, whether it be tires, whether it be hit water dishes that are being refilled at least weekly.”
Mathis said even bottle caps are large enough to contain mosquito larvae.
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