Health Department: Second West Nile Case Found in Greater Cincinnati

A second case of West Nile virus has been identified in the Cincinnati are, this time in Anderson Township.

According to an Aug. 3 press release from the Hamilton County Health Department (HCHD), a “mosquito pool” in Anderson Township recently tested positive for the virus.

“Not a human case, but a mosquito positively identified,” Mike Samet, a spokesperson for Hamilton County Public Health, told CityBeat.

The department said it will surveil the neighborhoods and commercial areas around where the mosquitoes were collected, looking for areas of standing water, applying larvicide and inspecting swimming pools.

“We can all take action to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and take precautions to avoid mosquito bites,” Greg Kesterman, HCHD commissioner said. “West Nile was first identified in Ohio in 2001, so it’s not new to our area, but we like to take the opportunity to remind everyone to take precautions.”

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Health Department: West Nile Virus Found in Cincinnati

The department did not say where or when the mosquito with West Nile was found, but included tips for preventing breeding sites for mosquitos.

The Cincinnati Health Department (CHD) identified a case of West Nile earlier in July. Both the city and county health departments are cautioning people to protect themselves against mosquito bites and to reduce outdoor standing water.

West Nile virus can cause serious neurologic illness in a very small percentage of patients, about less than 1%, according to the CHD. Most people, about 70%-80%, who become infected show no symptoms, and there’s no vaccine for the virus. The incubation period can range from two to 14 days, with about one in five patients experiencing a fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Most people with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely, but the disease can be deadly for a very small fraction of patients who develop a neurologic infection.

HCPH advises all residents to “drain, dunk and protect” to reduce the mosquito population and prevent West Nile virus:

Drain:

• Look for and drain sources of standing water on your property – litter, tires, buckets, flowerpots, wading pools and similar items that could create standing water and become mosquito breeding sites.
• Frequently change water in bird baths and pet bowls.
• Drain small puddles after heavy rainstorms.

Dunk:

• Apply mosquito larvicide, sometimes called mosquito “dunks,” to areas of standing water that cannot be drained. The “dunks” are environmentally safe and won’t harm pets. Purchase them at your local hardware store.

Protect:

• Cut your grass and trim shrubbery.
• Make sure screens in windows and doors are tight-fitting and free from defect.
• Wear long sleeves and pants during peak mosquito hours – dawn and dusk.
• Use an EPA-registered insect repellent such as those containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon or eucalyptus.
• Always follow the directions on the package.

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and researchers at Ohio State University have said 2023 is also a bad year for ticks and the diseases they carry. OSU researchers recommend homeowners keep their lawns mowed and free of brush or leaf litter to make lawns a less attractive habitat for ticks.

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This article appears in Jul 26 – Aug 8, 2023.