Mosquitoes bring West Nile virus to Monroe County

Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been discovered in Monroe County by the Monroe County Health Department.

Despite the Indiana State Department of Health’s findings, there have been no human cases of West Nile virus reported in Monroe County, Penny Caudill, an administrator at the Monroe County Health Department said.

“We have a program where someone goes out periodically to take mosquito samples,” said Caudill. Although an emphasis on sample collection is placed during the summer months, it is an ongoing, yearlong process.

The cases have, however, spread beyond Monroe County.

“Most of the cases have been found in the central and eastern counties of the state,” said Simeon Baker, an environmental health specialist for the Monroe County Health Department. The mosquitoes generally occupy water-filled areas.

Mosquitoes carrying the virus will breed in clogged roof gutters, ditches and untended swimming pools, Caudill said. West Nile virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes that have bitten an infected bird. A person who is bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus might show symptoms within a period of a few days to two weeks.

“It depends whether most people will recover,” Caudill said. Most people who become infected with the virus will have very mild symptoms, if any at all.

According to a press release issued by the Monroe County Health Department, few individuals will contract a more severe form of the disease, including encephalitis and meningitis. Although there are no specific treatments or vaccines for West Nile virus, people who develop high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, muscle weakness, nausea, sore joints or confusion should see a doctor. Serious cases might require intensive support therapy and good nursing care.