KENT COUNTY, Mich. -- The Kent County Health Department is reporting the first West Nile Virus-related death in the county since May of last year.
The county had recently detected the virus in local mosquito samples, including one collected about 3-thousand feet from where the person died.
The victim's name and age were not provided by the health department, which recommends that you use insect repellent with DEET, wear long sleeves and pants to limit skin exposure and avoid outdoor activity during dawn and dusk.
WOOD Radio inquired in an email about the zip code area where the infection occurred. The health department replied that this case followed positive detections (in mosquitoes) in three county ZIP codes.
"Focusing on any one area could potentially identify the individual and ultimately distract from our key message: mosquitoes carrying West Nile can be present anywhere in the county," it said.
The KCHD provided more information in a news release:
Transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes, WNV is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States, but its effects vary from person to person:
- Most people show no symptoms
- About 1 in 5 develop mild, flu-like illness such as fever, headache, body aches, or rash
- About 1 in 150 develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system, which can sometimes be fatal
"Our deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of this individual," said Brendan Earl, Supervising Sanitarian at KCHD. "This tragic outcome is a reminder that mosquitoes in our area are active and capable of spreading serious illness. Prevention remains our best protection.”
Since there is no vaccine or specific treatment for WNV, the best way to protect yourself and your family when mosquitoes are present is by following these simple tips:
- Use insect repellent with 10-35% DEET, and always follow label directions
- Wear long sleeves and pants to limit skin exposure
- Avoid outdoor activity during dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active
- Eliminate standing water around your home—refresh bird baths, wading pools, pet bowls, and empty small containers regularly
- Keep screens and gutters in good repair to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home
KCHD’s Mosquito Surveillance Team will continue to monitor local mosquitoes for WNV, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Jamestown Canyon virus, La Crosse virus, and St. Louis Encephalitis through late September—when populations tend to decline significantly.
To learn more about mosquitoes and the diseases they carry, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.