One Person in Lexington Positive for West Nile

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – The Lexington-Fayette County Health Unit has confirmed a case of West Nile Virus in a human being.

As a result, the Department of Health will carry out mosquito spraying activities on the morning of dawn on Thursday morning in parts of postal codes 40505 and 40508. This is the first human case of West Nile virus in Fayette County this year.

West Nile virus can be transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 20% of those infected with West Nile virus will experience symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swelling of the lymph nodes or rash on the chest . Belly and Back People who experience these symptoms should consult their health care provider.

Spraying will take place between 3 and 6 o'clock on Thursday. For the spray to be maintained, the wind speed must be less than 10 mph, the temperature must be greater than 55^o F and there can be no rain or dense fog. The health department uses Duet®, an EPA-approved agent that contains a component that stimulates resting mosquitoes in trees and foliage, causing them to fly and come into contact with sumithrin, an anti-inflammatory agent. -mosquito. Duet® has been rigorously tested for human and animal safety and is registered for residential and outdoor recreational areas.

The best way to reduce the risk of getting a mosquito-borne disease is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. By taking the following measures, you will avoid mosquito bites:

• Protect your home and yard against mosquitoes. Fix or install window and door screens. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in the stagnant water. Cover or dispose of empty containers with standing water. Limit the number of places around your house for mosquitoes to reproduce by getting rid of items such as tires, buckets, barrels and cans. Refresh water from your pet's water dishes and birdbaths at least every five to seven days.
• Be aware of the peaks of mosquito activity. Twilight hours around dusk and dawn are times when mosquito activity is most intense. Use an insect repellent when you are outdoors, especially during peak periods, including early morning. Look for EPA-labeled repellents containing active ingredients, such as DEET, picaridine (KBR3023) or lemon eucalyptus oil (p-menthane 3,8-diol). Apply a repellent according to the instructions on the label. When time permits, wear long sleeves, long pants and socks outdoors. Mosquitoes can bite themselves in fine clothes. Spraying garments containing a repellent containing permethrin or other insect repellent approved EPA helps prevent bites.

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is also conducting surveys in neighborhoods around Lexington to identify stagnant water problems that can be used as mosquito breeding grounds. The elimination of stagnant water is the ultimate goal, but in areas where water can not be removed, the water can be treated to kill mosquito larvae with a chemical called larvicide. The mosquito spray used by the health service concerns only adult mosquitoes present in the air at the time of spraying.

To report a standing water problem in your area, please call the Department of Health's Hygiene Section at (859) 231-9791. For more information, like the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LFCHD, or follow us on Twitter at the following address: www.twitter.com/LFCHD and Instagram at @lexpublichealth.