Marion County is experiencing a buzz of concern as the West Nile virus has been detected in the area.
As the summer heats up, local health officials are urging residents to take steps to prevent mosquito bites and reduce the spread of this potentially serious illness. Here’s what you need to know to keep those pesky insects — and the virus they carry — at bay.
Matt Sinsko, coordinator for the mosquito and rodent control program for the Marion County Health Department, wants to assure the public that finding West Nile virus in the city is not cause for concern.
“Every year since 2001, we’ve found West Nile virus in Marion County. Now, some years are worse than others,” Sinsko said. “It kind of seems to be a bit of a cycle, but it’s around July, August that we typically will start finding West Nile virus out there.”
The spreaders of the West Nile virus are not all mosquitos, according to Sinsko. The virus circulates amongst the birds, then a mosquito will carry that virus to a human.
“A hot, dry summer can stress out birds,” Sinsko said. “That will help amplify the virus in nature.”
This year’s summer has been hotter earlier in the year, leading Sinsko and his team to discover the presence of the virus earlier than previous years.
While the manifestation of the virus is important for the Marion County Health Department to examine, Sinsko just wants residents to understand what they can do at home to prevent the virus from spreading.
“Mosquitos and water have a dependent relationship with each other,” Sinsko said. “Mosquitos lay their eggs in water. Then, from those eggs, they’ll pupate like a butterfly. Then, they’ll turn into an adult mosquito.”
Sinsko wants residents to walk around their property and notice any stagnant water or any objects that can hold water. These can be things like:
- Swimming pools
- Clogged gutters
- Flowerpot saucers
- Children’s toys
- Drainage ditches
Any amount of stagnant water can encourage the breeding of mosquitos, no matter how small.
“Something as small as a bottle cap can be enough to breed mosquitos,” Sinsko said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 out of 10 people who contract the virus will not develop symptoms, but if you are experiencing headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting or rash after being bitten by a mosquito, call your primary care physician.
Mosquitoes Carrying West Nile Virus Found in Marion County – Indianapolis Recorder
For more information about the West Nile Virus in Indiana, visit marionhealth.org/programs/environmental-health/mosquito-and-rodent-control.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
