West Nile Virus pool confirmed in Bingham County

Southeastern Idaho Public Health (SEIPH) has confirmed a second West Nile Virus (WNV) positive mosquito pool.

The pool was located in Bingham County. The first was located in Power County earlier this summer. One human WNV case has been reported earlier this month in Canyon County.

West Nile is a potentially serious illness that is usually spread to animals and humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Most infected people do not show symptoms. People with symptoms often experience fever, headaches, body aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, eye pain, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash with 2 to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Most severe infections may involve the central nervous system.

SEIPH has suggest the following precautions:

When outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, such as DEET or Picaridin (apply it according to manufacturers’ instructions.) In addition, certain products which contain permethrin are recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear. Follow the directions on the package. Use insect repellent and wear long sleeves, pants, and loose-fitting clothing at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active and feeding. If possible, consider staying indoors during these hours. Make sure to have good screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out. Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by draining standing water from flowerpots, buckets, and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths and feeding troughs, at least twice a week. Drill holes in tire swings or old tires so water drains out. Keep children’s wading pools empty or on their sides when not in use. Don’t over-irrigate your lawns, gardens or pastures.

More information is available here.