The Porter County Health Department announced Tuesday that West Nile virus was detected in a pool of water in Porter County. The Indiana Department of Health mosquito-borne illness dashboard shows that eight of 40 pools tested were positive for the disease.
Seventy-eight Indiana counties have had 511 pools test positive this year, with seven human cases reported. Lake County has had nine positive pools and LaPorte County has had one.
Most infected with the disease will not exhibit symptoms, but mild symptoms include: fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands, or a rash. More serious forms of the disease can affect the nervous system, including inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, muscle paralysis, or death, according to the health department.
People over 60 and those with underlying health conditions are at greater risk for developing more severe forms of the virus. It is the most commonly-reported mosquito-borne disease in Indiana and the United States, officials said.
Personal prevention measures include: practicing bite prevention with an Environmental Protection Agency-registered bite repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and avoiding going outside during peak feeding times for mosquitoes, which include late afternoon, dusk to dawn, and early morning, according to the health department.
A container as small as a bottle cap can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Tips for making the environment less hospitable to the insects include: eliminating standing water and containers such as tires and old pots that can hold it, keeping grass mown short and shrubbery trimmed, repairing failed septic systems, drilling holes in the bottoms of recycling bins that stay outside, clearing clogged gutters, flushing ornamental fountains and birdbaths, aerating ponds or stocking them with fish that feed on mosquitoes, frequently replacing the water in pet bowls, and repairing screens, officials said.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.