PRESS RELEASE
September 4, 2015Hamilton County Health Department
Division of Vector Control
The Hamilton County Health Department’s Division of Vector Control conducts regular West Nile Virus (WNV) surveillance activities throughout the county from May – October. CDC Gravid traps are set throughout the county on a weekly basis in order to catch adult biting mosquitoes. The mosquitoes are sorted by species and those capable of transmitting WNV are retained for testing by the Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health. To date 28,607 mosquitoes have been collected and tested for WNV and St. Louis Encephalitis. A total of 45 mosquito pools collected from 25 different locations have tested positive for WNV.WNV has been detected in the mosquito population throughout the entire county.
The detection of WNV activity is evidence that the disease is present and the public should take proper precautions to stay protected. For optimum protection the Health Department recommends individuals:
1. Wear long sleeves, pants, socks, and shoes when outdoors.
2. Apply insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or IR3535 to any exposed skin.
3. Keep mosquitoes outside by keeping doors and windows closed or making sure screens are in good repair.
4. Avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn, when the mosquitoes that transmit WNV are most active.
In addition, all Hamilton County residents are asked to do the following in order to eliminate mosquito breeding sites around their home:
1. Remove all unneeded containers that hold water (tires, cans, bottles, buckets, jars, drums, and other trash / rubbish).
2. Dump and invert wheel barrows and kiddie / toddler pools when not in use.
3. Change water in birdbaths and pet bowls weekly.
4. Inspect water in flower pots and plant containers weekly.
5. Clean rain gutters.
6. Drain and fill tire ruts, stagnant pools, and puddles.
7. Place tight covers over cisterns, cesspools, septic tanks, tubs, and rain barrels where water is stored.
8. Keep the margins of ponds clear of vegetation and stock ornamental ponds with top – feeding minnows.
As a response to the finding of WNV, the Health Department will continue to conduct adult mosquito fogging and breeding site treatment in WNV positive areas. For current information about Hamilton County WNV surveillance and adult – mosquito fogging schedules please visit http://www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/323/Mosquito-Control.
State – wide WNV and St. Louis Encephalitis surveillance data can be found at https://gis.in.gov/apps/ISDH/Arbo.
