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West Nile Virus Death in Lucas County
The Toledo-Lucas County
Health Department (TLCHD) has confirmed its first human West
Nile virus related death in Lucas County for 2019. A 68
year-old Lucas County man, passed away after being
hospitalized with encephalitis. WNV continues to circulate
in mosquitoes throughout Lucas County. However, the Sanitary
District continues to spray or fog on a routine basis.
"Although we're getting
closer to the end of summer, you still can be at risk of
getting West Nile virus," said Eric Zgodzinski, Health
Commissioner. "It's important for everyone to continue
taking precautions such as wearing insect repellent and
staying indoors between dusk and dawn."
The most effective way to
prevent becoming infected with WNV is to follow the 3 R’s:
·
Remove standing water around your home in pet bowls, flower
pots, old tires, baby pools and toys and remove leaves and
debris from gutters so water doesn’t accumulate. Pools of
water allowed to stagnate for three or four days become
breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
·
Repel mosquitoes when outdoors between dusk and dawn by
applying insect repellent with DEET and wear light, lose
fitting clothing.
·
Repair or replace torn screens on doors and windows
Most people infected with
WNV have no symptoms of illness and never become ill. But
illness can occur three to 15 days after an infected
mosquito bite and cause symptoms of fever, headache and body
aches. The disease can affect all ages, but people over the
age of 50 and those with a chronic disease, such as heart
disease or cancer, may be at increased risk for serious
complications such as encephalitis or meningitis. For that
reason, people who experience high fever, confusion, muscle
weakness, severe headaches, or a stiff neck should see a
doctor immediately.
For additional
information, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/ or
http://www.tasd-mosquitoes.org/sprayschedule.php.
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