Current News

One human West Nile Virus case has been confirmed in Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department’s service area this past week. For the period 2003-2015, there were a total of 82 human cases of West Nile Virus in the health district.  Most people who are infected with West Nile have no symptoms or only mild flu-like symptoms. The most common types of West Nile include West Nile fever and West Nile encephalitis. West Nile fever includes flu-like symptoms, such as fever and muscle weakness. Symptoms of West Nile encephalitis include inflammation of the brain, disorientation, convulsions, and paralysis. Less than one out of 150 people who get bitten by an infected mosquito and become infected will get seriously ill. However, people over 50 and those with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable to the disease and are more likely to experience serious effects. The most important way to lower your risk is to prevent mosquito bites. The public is reminded to take the following precautions:

• Use mosquito repellent when outside (containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus)

• Wear long sleeved shirts, pants, and socks

• Avoid going out at dawn and dusk, when mosquitos are most active

• Remove standing water to reduce mosquito breeding sites

  A study recently released by the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that insect repellents that are 25% DEET can repel mosquitos for up to 8 hours and ticks for up to 5 hours with one application. The same study shows that insect repellents that are at least 5.75% Picaridin, 20% IR3535, or 30% Oil of lemon eucalyptus will last about the same amount of time.