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This follows confirmed positive mosquitos found in counties surrounding the nine county health district.
“People get West Nile Virus from an infected female mosquito which bites them,” states Melissa Propp, RN, Surveillance Nurse at SWNPHD. “You must work on preventing mosquito bites as there is no cure for West Nile Virus. WNV is not limited to the locations which have positive tested mosquitos.”
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
» About 1 in 5 people who are infected with WNV will develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Most people with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.
» Less than 1 percent of people who are infected will develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis (inflammation of the brain or surrounding tissues). These symptoms can include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures or paralysis.
» People with medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease are also at greater risk for serious illness with the West Nile Virus.
“Use your insect repellent,” Propp said. “DEET in your repellent is the most effective.”
Another protective measure is to utilize mosquito dunks in standing water that cannot be eliminated. It is a natural mosquito larvicide. It kills mosquito larvae but is harmless to birds, fish, wildlife and pets. Mosquito dunks typically last 30 days and can be purchased at retail stores.
More information on West Nile Virus may be found at swhealth.ne.gov or call the McCook office at 308-345-4223 or Imperial office at 308-882-4269. SWNPHD McCook is at 404 W. 10th St. SWNPHD Imperial is at 501 Broadway.
SWNPHD serves Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Perkins and Red Willow counties.
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