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First Case Of West Nile Of The Season Found In South County

A human case of the West Nile Virus has been confirmed in Washington D.C., District health officials announced Thursday night.

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Eight human cases of West Nile have been reported in the state so far this year.

More mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile virus in Will County in the last week. Only 20 percent of individuals bitten by an infected mosquito will develop symptoms such as fever, rash, headache, and joint pain. “We can’t stress enough the importance of avoiding mosquito bites”.

Make sure your home has tight-fitting screens on all windows and doors.

The City of Commerce along with assistance from Texas A&M University-Commerce has been testing mosquitoes for various diseases by trapping them and sending them to the Department of State Health Services.

As of August 18, 2015, a total of 210 cases of West Nile virus disease in people have been reported to CDC.

West Nile is transmitted to horses via bites from infected mosquitoes.

Less than 1 percent of people infected with West Nile virus will develop severe illness, including encephalitis or meningitis as demonstrated by high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation and muscle weakness.

A horse with the virus has been confirmed in Valencia County by Los Lunas Animal Clinic veterinarian Dr. Donny MacDougall DVM and Paul Ettestad, the New Mexico Department of Health’s veterinarian. These efforts will include mosquito trapping and testing, as well as surveying catch basins for mosquito larvae or standing water.

Only about two persons out of 10 who are bitten by an infected mosquito will experience any illness.

Turning over plastic wading pools, wheelbarrows, and canoes when not in use.

Empty your pet’s outdoor water bowl and refill daily.

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Working with the Wellesley Department of Public Works on treatment of catch basins throughout the Town – Storm drains are targeted as a major breeding ground for the mosquito species Culex Pipiens, which is known to carry WNV.

West Nile