Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus are in Monroe County. Here's how to protect yourself.

West Nile virus mosquitos have been found in Monroe County after a recent sampling by the Indiana Department of Health.

Residents are encouraged to check their property and surrounding areas to eliminate any standing water. Infected mosquitoes breed in areas such as ditches, open septic systems, discarded tires, birdbaths and clogged roof gutters. Pools, both big and small, are also notorious breeding grounds. Any unused container holding water for days at a time should be emptied.

As noted in the Monroe County Health Department advisory, "a bucket that has stagnant water in it for seven days can become home to up to a thousand mosquitoes."

What is the West Nile virus? How does it spread?

The West Nile virus is a disease commonly spread to humans via mosquitos throughout the United States, typically during the summer and early fall. It can spread to humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and some pets. No vaccine for the West Nile virus has been developed for humans, and there is no specific medicine available.

Most people infected with the West Nile virus either do not get sick or experience minor symptoms, which can manifest between three to 15 days after the mosquito bite. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about one in five infected people develop a fever and other symptoms.

However, some people can experience a more severe form of the disease by developing encephalitis, which impacts brain function, or meningitis, which inflames tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. People are encouraged to seek a doctor if they experience the following symptoms: high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, muscle weakness or paralysis, nausea or vomiting, sore joints and confusion.

People who are 50 or older are reportedly at a higher risk for serious illness and should take extra precaution.

How to keep West Nile Virus mosquitos away from your yard, house

A recent Monroe County health advisory highly encourage residents to eliminate areas of stagnant water that attract and host mosquitos.

Installing or repairing screens for windows and doors will keep mosquitos from entering your home. To protect one's yard, health officials recommend repairing failed septic systems, drilling holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers, cleaning clogged roof gutters and cutting grass short. To protect your nearby animals, ornamental fountains and birdbaths should be flushed periodically and pet bowls should be refreshed frequently. For ornamental pools, such as ponds, health officials recommend aeration, which pulls air into the water, or adding predatory fish.

Mosquitos are active in places such as wooded areas and are most prevalent in the late afternoon, dusk to dawn and the early morning of the day. While outside, people can protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Health officials also recommend using an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol. For more tips, residents can follow state health officials' mosquito bite prevention guideline. More information about the West Nile virus in Indiana can be found on the state's website at https://bit.ly/3CUhqIu.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: West Nile virus mosquitoes found in Monroe County: What that means