SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – The St. Joseph County Health Department has identified a group of mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus.
The pool is in the east of Mishawaka.
St. Joseph County is one of 2 counties in Indiana where mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus have been found this year. There have been no human cases of West Nile Virus in Indiana this year to date.
From the St. Joseph County Health Department:
To protect you and your family from mosquitoes:
• Avoid being outdoors during major mosquito bites, from dusk to dawn, when possible.
• Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, lemon eucalyptus oil, or para-methane-diol on clothing and exposed skin.
• Cover exposed skin by wearing a hat, long sleeves, and long pants in places where mosquitoes are especially active, such as forested areas.
• Make sure that all windows and doors have screens, and that all screens are in good condition.
• Use mosquito nets when sleeping outdoors or in an unprotected structure.
To reduce potential mosquito breeding sites:
• Dispose of old tires, cans, ceramic pots, or other containers that may hold water (even a small bucket that has standing water for seven days can become home to up to 1,000 mosquitoes).
• Repair of failed septic systems. • Drill holes in the bottom of recycling bins that are left outside.
• Keep grass short and bushes trimmed.
• Clean clogged roof gutters, particularly if leaves tend to clog drains (roof gutters are easily overlooked, but can produce millions of mosquitoes each season).
• Replace water in pet bowls frequently.
• Periodically rinse ornamental fountains and bird baths, and ventilate ornamental pools or fill them with predatory fish.
• Flip over plastic kiddie pools when not in use (a kiddie pool becomes a mosquito producer if not used regularly).
• Remember: mosquitoes will develop in any puddle that lasts more than four days.
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