Lincoln County mosquitoes test positive for West Nile

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- The West Central District Health Department (WCDHD) confirmed that a mosquito pool in Lincoln County has tested positive for the West Nile Virus (WNV).
The end of summer is the most likely time of the year that positive West Nile samples are collected and reported. The health department is advising residents to continue to protect themselves against mosquito bites.
According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NE DHHS), human WNV infections come from positive mosquito pools. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of people infected with WNV do not experience symptoms. The remaining 20 percent may experience fever, rash, headache fatigue, and joint pain and normally WNV sets in three to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
In rare cases, WNV can cause severe disease leading to possible muscle weakness, stiff neck, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and coma. Older adults and people with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of experiencing more severe symptoms. There is no specific treatment for WNV but symptomatic supportive care is provided when appropriate.
For the current WNV season, one positive WNV mosquito pool and two lab confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus have been discovered.
The WCDHD recommends that people avoid being outside at sunrise and sunset when mosquitoes are most active and to protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing lightweight protective clothing (including long-sleeved shirts and long pants) and by using an insect repellent containing DEET, IR3535, Oil of Eucalyptus or Picaridin.
Residents are encouraged to frequently drain containers and other standing water around their homes to interrupt the breeding cycle of mosquitoes.
For the current 2022 WNV season, surveillance began in May and will continue through the end of September. Weekly WNV reports can be found by visiting the NE DHHS WNV Surveillance Data webpage: http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/West-Nile-Virus.aspx
For more information, visit www.wcdhd.org or call 308-696-1201.