The Monroe County Health Department confirmed that samples of mosquitos have tested positive for West Nile Virus in Monroe County. Samples were collected by the Indiana Department of Health as part of its mosquito surveillance program.
In a press release, environmental health specialist Simeon Baker, who manages Monroe County’s mosquito surveillance program, said eliminating areas of standing water available for mosquito breeding will help keep the community safe from the virus.
Places to consider include ditches, discarded tires, birdbaths, and any unused containers that hold water for days at a time. According to Baker, a bucket that has stagnant water in it for seven days can become home to up to a thousand mosquitos.
In an effort to better track and prevent vector-borne diseases like West Nile Virus, Indiana University, Purdue and Notre Dame have joined the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases. The center helps states in the Upper Midwest “to identify, understand and respond to human and animal health concerns surrounding vector-borne diseases,” according to its website.
Cate Hill, professor of medical entomology at Purdue, said she is excited to have these schools working together and “looking at key problems that are caused by ticks and mosquitos in the Midwest region and helping people in that region to find new ways to respond and prevent disease transmission.”
The partnership comes after the center had its funding renewed for the next five years by the Center for Disease Control and prevention. Other states that are part of the coalition include Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa and Illinois.
Hill said the center is working on “naturally derived” insecticides, spatial repellents for mosquito control, and a novel way of controlling the mosquito population via modified yeast.
“That's just the Indiana component. And I know that counterparts in other states will be doing similar work,” Hill noted. “It's the chance to harness that collective expertise and bring it to bear on the specific problems for the Midwest.”
To protect yourself from West Nile, use insect repellant and check for ticks often. Seek out a doctor if you get symptoms including high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, muscle paralysis, nausea, vomiting, sore joints and confusion.
