The Kanawha County Health Department has found the West Nile virus in mosquitoes in the area.
The health department, together with the Putnam County Health Department, has been conducting mosquito surveillance and found a pool of mosquitoes in South Charleston that tested positive for the virus. The department had been capturing the mosquitoes and submitting them for testing at the state Office of Laboratory Services.
"We've actually found them a couple places - Mason County, Kanawha County," said Stanley Mills, director of environmental services for the department. "Again, it's probably not an unusual thing this time of year. When the virus is around, it takes a little time for the birds to feed on mosquitoes and back and forth until there's enough virus that's shows up on the testing."
West Nile is a bird disease, but it also affects humans and horses, Mills said. He said the department last detected West Nile virus in Kanawha County mosquitoes at the end of September, and before that, five weeks ago.
Mills said the mosquitoes are still biting even though the weather has gotten cooler. People should take precautions so they don't get bitten, he said. For instance, people should get rid of standing water, which can be a breeding ground for the bugs.
"Even if it rains a little bit, as long as the temperature is above 50 degrees at night, the mosquitoes will be out," Mills said.
Abandoned tires, bird baths, flower pots and wading pools can be havens for them, he said in a release.
People can also reduce their chances of being bitten by wearing long sleeves and pants while outdoors, using insect repellent and staying inside during peak mosquito hours - dawn and dusk, Mills said.
Symptoms of the West Nile virus can include body aches, body rash, diarrhea, headaches, joint pains or vomiting, Dr. Michael Brumage, director of the health department, said in a press release.
Most people who contract the virus don't experience symptoms, Mills said. The department has not been notified of any human cases of the illness, but wanted to get the word out to physicians so they can test for it in case patients show up with symptoms.
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