St. Joseph County Health Dept. releases advisory about West Nile Virus

The St. Joseph County Health Department has urged residents to be aware of the West Nile Virus threat in the area.

Health officials say they have been regularly trapping and testing mosquitoes, and increasingly those tests are coming back positive for the virus.

There have been two documented human cases of West Nile in Indiana this year, including one in Elkhart.

The threat of the West Nile Virus will remain until a hard freeze occurs.

Symptoms of West Nile Virus usually appear within 2-14 days of a bite from an infected mosquito.

Symptoms

Headache

Body aches

Joint pains

Vomiting 

Diarrhea

Rash

The St. Joseph County Department of Health encourages you to take the following steps to protect you and your family. 

•  Avoid being outdoors during prime mosquito biting times - dusk to dawn - when possible
• Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-methane-diol to clothes and exposed skin.
• Cover exposed skin by wearing a hat, long sleeves and long pants in places where mosquitoes are especially active, such as wooded areas.
• Treat clothing and outdoor gear with 0.5% permethrin if camping or spending extended periods of time outdoors.
• Make sure all windows and doors have screens, and that all screens are in good repair.
• Reduce mosquito breeding on and around your property.