THERE. TWO MORE LOCATIONS IN HAMILTON COUNTY HAVE NOW CONFIRMED THE PRESENCE OF WEST NILE VIRUS IN MOSQUITOES. THE CINCINNATI HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY’VE FOUND THE VIRUS IN MOSQUITO POOLS IN BOND HILL AND MADISONVILLE. SPRINGDALE RECENTLY CONFIRMED THE PRESENCE OF WEST NILE VIRUS AND ITS GLENVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD, THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY’RE CONTACTING EVERYONE WITHIN A MILE RADIUS OF WHERE THEY FOUND THE VIRUS. JUST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. CINCINNATI HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONFIRMS VIRUS
Health Department: West Nile Virus Detected in Cincinnati Through Mosquito Samples
Updated: 5:13 p.m. EDT July 12, 2024
West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in the Cincinnati area, health officials say. The Cincinnati Health Department said that through its regular and ongoing surveillance of mosquito-borne diseases, they have collected samples from mosquitoes in Bond Hill and Madisonville that tested positive for West Nile virus. Video above: West Nile virus identified in mosquito population, Springdale health officials say The health department said the samples are the first positive results so far this summer. The department’s Environmental Technical Services team is contacting all residents within about a 0.5- and 1-mile radius to notify them that mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus have been found in the area and to provide information on how they can protect themselves. The CHD said that last year, Cincinnati had 31 clusters of mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile virus, well above the average of three positive clusters per year. However, no human infections have been diagnosed. The last confirmed case of West Nile virus infection in a Cincinnati resident was in 2012. “Any time we find West Nile virus in our local mosquito population, we recognize the danger of transmission to humans. That’s what we want to avoid,” Dr. Grant Mussman, Cincinnati Health Department Commissioner, said in a statement. “We want to encourage Cincinnati area residents to take a few simple precautions to protect themselves, their families and their neighbors.” Health officials recommend the following preventative measures: Avoid going outside when mosquitoes are active (especially late afternoon, dusk to dawn and early morning); Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol to clothing and exposed skin; Cover exposed skin by wearing a hat, long sleeves, and long pants in areas where mosquitoes are particularly active, such as wooded areas; Install or repair screens on windows and doors to prevent mosquitoes from entering the home. There are several steps you can take to prevent mosquitoes from breeding near homes and to protect people from mosquito bites. Eliminate sources of standing water in your yard, such as saucers under flower pots, children’s toys, wheelbarrows, boats, tires, puddles, etc. Replace water in bird baths and outdoor pet dishes at least once a week to help eliminate standing water. Keep the pool circulating, clean, and chlorinated, and remove any water that collects on the pool cover. Empty and turn plastic wading pools or kiddie pools upside down when not in use. Keep gutters clean to prevent standing water. For questions or additional information regarding West Nile virus or mosquitoes, contact the Cincinnati Health Department’s Technical Environmental Services Unit at 513-352-2922.
West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in the Cincinnati area, health officials say.
The Cincinnati Health Department said that through its regular and ongoing surveillance for mosquito-borne diseases, they have collected mosquito samples in Bond Hill and Madisonville that tested positive for West Nile virus.
Video above: West Nile virus identified in mosquito population, Springdale health officials say
The health ministry said the samples were the first positive results so far this summer.
The department’s Environmental Technical Services team is contacting all residents within approximately 0.5 and 1 mile radius to inform them that mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus have been found in the area and to provide them with information on how they can protect themselves.
CHD said Cincinnati had 31 West Nile virus-positive mosquito clusters last year, well above the average of three positive clusters per year. However, no human infections have been diagnosed. The last confirmed case of West Nile virus infection in a Cincinnati resident was in 2012.
“Anytime we detect West Nile virus in our local mosquito population, we recognize the danger of transmitting it to humans. That’s what we want to avoid,” Cincinnati Health Department Commissioner Dr. Grant Mussman said in a statement. “We want to encourage Cincinnati area residents to take a few simple precautionary steps to protect themselves, their families and their neighbors.”
Health officials recommend the following preventive measures:
- Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are active (especially late afternoon, dusk to dawn, and early morning);
- Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthane-diol to clothing and exposed skin;
- Cover exposed skin by wearing a hat, long sleeves, and long pants in areas where mosquitoes are particularly active, such as wooded areas;
- Install or repair mosquito nets on windows and doors to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house.
There are several steps that can be taken to prevent mosquitoes from breeding near homes and to protect people from mosquito bites.
- Eliminate sources of standing water in your yard, such as saucers under flower pots, children’s toys, wheelbarrows, boats, tires, puddles, etc.
- Replace water in bird baths and outdoor pet bowls at least once a week to help eliminate standing water.
- Keep the pool circulating, clean and chlorinated, and remove any water that collects on the pool cover.
- Empty and turn plastic wading pools or children’s pools upside down when not in use.
- Keep gutters clean to avoid standing water.
For questions or additional information regarding West Nile virus or mosquitoes, contact the Cincinnati Health Department’s Technical Environmental Services Unit at 513-352-2922.