West Nile Virus found in one Indiana county

by Nora Gathings (hsgathings@wsbt.com)

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mosquitos carry West Niles virus

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By WSBT News1

ELKHART — All the rain and warm temperatures have created the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Local health departments are monitoring the mosquito population for the deadly West Nile Virus.

One Central Indiana county department has already found it.

Since May, local health departments have set traps and tested mosquitoes for the virus. They haven't seen it yet, but they also haven't seen a lot of mosquitoes. They say that will change starting next week.

Kathy Garrett spends her summer days playing outside with her kids and teaching a YMCA Fit Family program.

"On nice days we tend to be outside, and we talk to the kids about wearing sunscreen, bug repellent," she said.

She isn't the only one taking precautions against mosquitoes.

Local health departments have monitored the mosquito population for a month and Marion County has already found mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus twice.

"Unfortunately as long as we have mosquitoes and birds acting as a reservoir and they are migratory, we are going to have West Nile in our community," said John Hulewicz, Elkhart County Health Department.

The recent rain has left standing water, the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

"As long as it is being amplified in wildlife, we are going to have a better chance of someone coming down with it sooner or later," said Hulewicz.

Last year, 24 Hoosiers contracted the disease; and one of them died.

But active moms say it's not going to stop them or their kids from running around outside.

"I think it's like so many things that you can only do so much," said Garrett.

Health officials say it's that time for the yearly reminder -- cut your grass, toss out anything that can hold water, avoid going outside around dusk, and wear bug repellent containing DEET.

Local health departments stopped testing birds for the virus this year because they know it's here.

Sunday, Jun 8 at 2:39 PM Dave Moskowitz MD FACP wrote ...

Anybody who wants to download our WNV trial protocol can do so for free at any time by clicking on the "West Nile trial" link on our company’s homepage at www.genomed.com.

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