- MARION COUNTY - The total
number of positive West Nile virus cases in Marion County is now 13. Health
officials say the chances of being bitten are higher if you're outside
in a wooded area at dawn or dusk.
-
- That's why three dozen health department employees are
now working daily from 6:30 a.m. until midnight searching for and destroying
mosquito pools. The virus can cause encephalitis, which is a swelling of
the brain. Even so, experts say the chances of a human contracting the
disease is rare, less than one percent.
-
- Still, health official Jim Erwin sends out a warning.
"Be cautious, the virus is out there. We found it Friday in mosquito
pools, two, in the southeast side of the county, which means we know there's
an active virus that can be transmitted by the mosquitoes out there."
-
- To avoid mosquito bites experts say to follow a few simple
rules; when you can, wear long pants and long sleeved shirts, use bug repellent
regularly, preferable with the ingredient deet and stay inside around dusk
and dawn.
-
- If you have any questions you can call the health department,
at 221-7440.
-
- This will probably last until October, that's when mosquito
season officially ends.
|
