Mosquito sample in Trumbull County tests positive for West Nile virus
WARREN — A mosquito pool from a surveillance program has tested positive for West Nile Virus, the Trumbull County Combined Health District announced Monday.
The sample was collected in the 600 block of North Road SE in Howland Township between Aug. 17 and 18.
To date, there have been no human cases of West Nile virus in Trumbull County, a news release states. But with the presence of a positive West Nile virus mosquito pool, the health district is asking the community to be vigilant against being bitten by a mosquito.
Insect repellent tips:
- Apply repellents on exposed skin registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- Wear clothing treated with permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent for extra protection.
- Use products according to label instructions to optimize safety and effectiveness.
- Do not spray repellents on the skin under your clothing.
Use caution during peak mosquito biting hours:
- Take extra care to use repellents from dusk to dawn.
- Wear light-colored clothing, long-sleeve shirts or jackets and long pants.
- Consider avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito-biting hours.
- Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure.
Tips to eliminate mosquito breeding sites near your home:
- Empty standing water from flowerpots, buckets, barrels, tarps/covers and wheelbarrows on a regular basis.
- Discard trash such as tin cans, plastic containers and other water-holding containers that have accumulated on your property.
- Dispose of discarded tires properly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out.
- Change the water in pet dishes frequently.
- Replace the water in birdbaths weekly.
- Check and clean clogged roof gutters at least twice annually so they will drain properly.
- Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with mosquito-eating fish.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, even those that are not being used.
- Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they are not being used.
- Consider using products containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, available at many garden and home improvement stores, to control mosquito larvae in containers that are too large to empty. Follow the label instructions.
This story was originally published August 30, 2021 at 2:29 PM with the headline "Mosquito sample in Trumbull County tests positive for West Nile virus."