The South Heartland District Health Department (SHDHD) reported collections of Culex mosquitoes trapped in Adams County on Aug. 1, have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV).
Michele Bever, SHDHD health director, reminds residents that WNV can be spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
In 2022, 64 Nebraskans tested positive for West Nile virus, according to Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS), with 37 of these being neuroinvasive (infection of the nervous system). Last year four deaths were attributed to WNV.
This year to date, three clinical cases and one case identified through blood donation have been reported in Nebraska.
Symptoms of West Nile illness are usually mild, including fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash. However, the symptoms may be more severe, sometimes causing permanent neurological damage, and may result in death.
“The best way for us to fight WNV is to avoid being outside from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active, and to protect ourselves from mosquito bites by wearing lightweight protective clothing and by using an EPA- registered insect repellent containing DEET, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or Picaridin,” she said.
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