WEST OLIVE, Mich. -- The health department in Ottawa County is reminding residents to use mosquito repellent and take other precautions outdoors.
It says the West Nile Virus has been detected in a pool of mosquitoes that were collected in the southwest section of the county. So far, no human cases of West Nile have been reported in Ottawa County or the rest of the state this summer.
Earlier this month, a separate virus was detected in the 49504 zip code. That was the Jamestown Canyon Virus.
Kent County's administrative health officer, Dr. Adam London, says the county's mosquito and tick surveillance programs have seen unusually large populations of them both.
Here is more information provided in an Ottawa County Health Department news release:
OCDPH is reminding residents that this finding means that West Nile virus is present in Ottawa County. West Nile virus is most commonly spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms of illness include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Because there is no vaccine or cure for West Nile virus, preventing infection is important.
You can reduce your risk of getting sick with West Nile virus by avoiding mosquito bites. Prevent mosquito bites by:
- Using insect repellent when you are outside.
- Wearing light colored and long-sleeved shirts and pants.
- Treating clothing and outdoor gear with insect repellent.
- Taking steps to control mosquitos in your yard by removing standing water around your home. This can include water in bird baths, children’s wading pools, water bowls for your pets, or in any container that can collect water.
For more information, visit miottawa.org/wnv and cdc.gov/west-nile-virus.
The Ottawa County Department of Public Health works with our community to help assure conditions that promote and protect health. OCDPH’s vision is healthy people. Follow OCDPH on Facebook @miOttawaHealth, X @miOCDPH, or Instagram @miOCDPH
Kent County Administrative Health Officer Dr. Adam London talked about mosquitoes and ticks in his July public newsletter:
Here at KCHD, our mosquito and tick surveillance programs have seen unusually large populations of these parasites this summer. I’m sure there are many possible explanations for this, including a mild winter and sufficient precipitation to support successive mosquito generations of multiple species.
In addition to being a nuisance, these pests also increase the risk of vector-borne illnesses such as West Nile Virus (WNV), Lyme Disease, and others. Our KCHD surveillance team identified WNV positive mosquitoes several weeks ago, which was well over a month earlier than we usually find WNV. They have also identified a related virus, Jamestown Canyon virus, in mosquitoes and we remain concerned about the potential for Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
Thankfully, no human cases of WNV have been reported as of this date, but it’s important to note that the greatest risk generally presents itself in late summer and does not subside until we have a hard frost. On the tick front: through June of this year, physicians in Kent County diagnosed 54 human cases of Lyme Disease – almost five times more than the median number of cases reported through June of the prior five years.
The increased presence of the problematic black-legged tick, along with several other tick species, throughout the Lower Peninsula in recent years is a significant public health concern.