LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The Ionia County Well being Division as confirmed a human case of West Nile virus (WNV) within the space, the primary reported case within the county this yr.
WNV is a mosquito-borne illness transmitted to people by way of the chew of contaminated mosquitoes — the most typical mosquito-borne illness in the USA. Whereas most individuals contaminated with WNV don’t expertise signs, round 1 in 5 individuals develop delicate, flu-like signs equivalent to fever, complications, physique aches or rash.
Round 1 in 150 individuals might develop a extreme sickness affecting the central nervous system — which may at occasions be deadly. These greater than 50 years previous have the best threat of creating signs because of an infection.
There isn’t any vaccine, treatment, or different remedy to forestall WNV, and The Ionia County Well being Division says one of the best ways to guard your self is thru preventative habits, equivalent to utilizing insect repellent containing energetic substances, and carrying lengthy sleeves and pants to restrict pores and skin publicity.
Moreover, specialists say being indoors at night time, correctly putting in window and door screens, utilizing mosquito nets and followers whereas outdoors, and eliminating standing water close to your property also can assist scale back the chance of mosquito bites and, subsequently WNV.
