CLARK COUNTY — The Clark County Combined Health District has uncovered mosquitoes that have tested positive for West Nile virus in the Park Layne area.
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West Nile virus is commonly spread by infected mosquitoes and can lead to severe fever, brain inflammation or meningitis.
According to health officials, mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds and then the virus can spread to humans and other animals when mosquitoes bite.
About 80 percent of the people infected with the virus will not show any symptoms at all. Those who do get symptoms will usually have them start showing up between three to 14 days.
Clark County officials said about one in 150 people infected will develop severe illness, including high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. The symptoms may last several weeks and neurological effects may be permanent.
Up to 20 percent of people that become infected may have milder symptoms including, fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or skin rash. Symptoms can last a few days as long as several weeks.
Health officials urge you to apply repellents on exposed skin and wear long sleeves pants when possibly exposed to mosquitoes. They also urge you to get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying and treating any standing water on your property.
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