ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A case of West Nile Virus has been detected in a wild bird in Allegan County.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services notified the Allegan County Health Department of the case on Thursday, September 29.
Officials say the bird was found dead in a yard in the village of Otsego, and that so far, the Allegan County Health Department has not had any reported or confirmed cases of West Nile Virus in humans.
Health experts are encouraging residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites, which is how this and other diseases can be spread. They say also that mosquitoes generally stay active until the first hard frost of the year.
Avoid mosquito bites and the diseases they carry with these steps:
- Apply insect repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET, or other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered products to exposed skin or clothing, and always follow the manufacturer’s directions for use
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors
- Maintain window and door screening to help keep mosquitoes outside
- Empty water from mosquito breeding sites around the home, such as buckets, unused kiddie pools, old tires, or similar sites where mosquitoes may lay eggs
- Use nets and/or fans over outdoor eating areas
WNV is an infection with mild to severe symptoms, which include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Body Aches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rash (on chest, stomach, or back).
For more information on WNV and other mosquito-related diseases, visit the CDC or MDHHS websites.
Comments