Homeowners asked to help rout West Nile virus

MANSFIELD – Homeowners have become more crucial as a first-line defense against a potential for West Nile virus infections in Richland County.

Richland Public Health, which began dispatching mosquito control spray trucks around the county at the beginning of June, had to cancel many of runs this year because of rainstorms.

Spraying had to be canceled at a time when the health department was learning that west Nile virus had been detected in a test sample of mosquitoes caught in the southwest Ontario area.

“We haven’t been able to spray for the last week, almost,” said Matt Work, environmental health chief for Richland Public Health. “We’ve been killed by the weather.

“We had the third wettest June in 100 years. I would say it’s fair to assume that we’re behind...”

So it’s especially important that homeowners help prevent mosquito infestations on their properties. That includes eliminating standing water collecting in gutters, flower pot bases, buckets or old tires, Work said.

“Standing water that is there for more than seven days in a puddle, a birdbath, or a fountain — mosquitoes can breed in that,” he said.

Ben Morgenstern, who runs a gutter cleaning and repair service with more than 800 customers in four counties, has seen the puddling that can occur along roof lines if a homeowners hasn’t cleared gutters of debris.

Grit from roof shingles, pine needles or autumn leaves can clog gutters, and storm water draining through it doesn’t get rid of a lot of that debris. When he takes a look at the clogged areas, “I see a lot of standing water” that can remain there for some time, Morgenstern said.

“If there is not regular maintenance down on the gutters, there’s going to be problems down the road,” including mosquito, he said.

Mosquitoes also can manage to breed inside PVC pipe that’s attached to downspouts in an effort to drain water away from the house, the owner of Ben Morgenstern LLC/ohiogutterman.com added.

Richland Public Health announced Friday that West Nile virus had been detected in a testing sample of mosquitoes trapped in the Ontario area two weeks prior.

That meant the virus was present in insects in Richland County — though no human infections have been reported this year, the agency said. West Nile virus has been confirmed in mosquitoes trapped in two other Ohio counties in 2015 — Franklin and Licking.

The location in southwest Ontario where the trap was collected “was not the GM plant,” though City of Ontario officials have been working to get problems with standing water there settled, said Reed Richmond, health educator with Richland Public Health.

Health officials said it’s unknown whether just one mosquito caught in that trap had the virus, or more insects were carriers, since the contents of traps are treated as a single sample by the lab.

Advisories were sent to Richland County physicians’ offices Friday, recommending that doctors consider West Nile virus as a possibility for some patients who come in with flu-like symptoms.

Actual cases of West Nile virus infections in humans are relatively rare, though possible.

“We’re not going to cry wolf,” Richmond said.

The health department’s spray program takes place in the evening or before dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. The fog must physically contact a mosquito to be effective, which means it catches those insects that are airborne, Richmond said.

“Spraying is going to knock down adults. “But the real key is to keep them from breeding,” Work said.

Health officials said streams aren’t a concern, since West Nile mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.

Owners of ponds can install an aerator to discourage mosquito infestations, or use residential-strength larvaecides typically found at big box stores, health officials said.

Homeowners should take precautions against mosquito infestations, health officials said.

“Encourage your neighbors (to do the same) — and help them out, if they need help,” Work said.

lmartz@gannett.com

419-521-7229

Twitter: @MNJmartz

The facts about West Nile Virus

West Nile virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.

About 20 percent of people who become infected with the virus develop West Nile fever, with symptoms including fever, headache, tiredness and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash and swollen lymph glands.

About one in 150 people infected with the virus develop a more severe form of the disease, such as West Nile encephalitis, meningitis or West Nile poliomyelitis.

The disease has been reported in patients across all 48 lower states.

Richland County had confirmed cases of West Nile virus infections in humans in 2012, but nothing since then, local health officials say.

People who live in mosquito-infested areas should wear long sleeves, light colored clothing. They should use an insect repellant containing DEET, picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil. Special care should be taken to follow directions on the label for children.