West Nile Virus detected in Springfield; How to protect yourself
Health officials in Clark County are advising people to take precautions so they don’t catch the West Nile Virus.
The Clark County Combined Health District is already starting to see positive samples of the virus in mosquitoes in the county, the latest positive samples came out of Springfield.
“We really want people to take precautions to protect themselves,” Larry Shaffer, Clark County Combined Health District director of environmental health said.
One of the precautions comes from the health department.
When there is a positive sample in the county Shaffer said workers will spray a mosquito control product called “Duet” in the area where they were found.
The health department said Duet was sprayed in the southeast, northeast and northwest sections of Springfield Thursday.
As far as protecting yourself, Shaffer said the best thing to do is get rid of standing water around your home.
“Dump those kids’ toys out, dump that birdfeeder out, the dog bowls, change the water often, anything that holds water — it might be a tarp over a woodpile that’s got a pocket of water in it, dump that out because that is the absolute best way to control mosquitoes,” he said.
Shaffer said mosquitoes often come out in the early morning or late evening, he recommends avoiding outdoor activities during those times.
If you do have to be outside he recommends long sleeves and using an insect repellant that contains DEET.
Unfortunately, he said it is likely more positive West Nile samples will pop up this summer across the Miami Valley.
“Mosquitoes don’t know county lines so I’m sure it spills over into counties throughout west central Ohio and so we want all citizens of Ohio to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites,” Shaffer said.
Health officials from Montgomery and Greene Counties said they have not detected any positive samples so far.
