GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Kent County Health Department has confirmed the county's first detections of West Nile Virus this year.
They were in mosquitoes that were trapped in the 49504 zip code in Grand Rapids and 49519 in Wyoming. The county said in a social media post that its Mosquito Surveillance Team will continue monitoring local mosquito populations through late September, when they tend to decline significantly.
The health department also mentioned that most people infected with West Nile virus don't develop symptoms, but some may experience fever, headache, body aches, or rash. Mosquitoes are most prevalent around dawn and dusk.
The best protection is to use insect repellent containing DEET, wear long sleeves and pants, and remove standing water from around your home.
The KCHD said, "While most people infected with West Nile virus don't develop symptoms, some may experience fever, headache, body aches, or rash. The best protection is prevention."
- Use insect repellent with 10-35% DEET
- Wear long sleeves and pants
- Avoid dawn and dusk (peak mosquitos)
- Remove standing water around your home
- Keep window screens and gutters in check