Presence of West Nile Virus confirmed
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

According to health officials from Ripley County, the presence of West Nile Virus has been found in recent testing of mosquito pools found in the county.

This new information has Ripley County joining ten other counties with confirmed reported cases of the virus.

Although no human cases have been reported in the county, health officials are saying to take common sense steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitos which contract the virus from infected birds. They advise to use insect repellant and cover up as much as you can when spending time outdoors. Eliminating standing water which serves as a breeding area for mosquitos is one of the recommended steps to respond to the threat of the disease. Property owners are encouraged to check for and eliminate such areas.

The Indiana State Department of Health provides information on its website at http://www.in.gov/isdh/index.htm about the virus, its symptoms, treatment and how to reduce risks.

Officials from the Ripley County Health Department will be looking for and testing suspected mosquito breeding areas. If you are aware of such areas but are unable to eliminate or treat them yourself, please report these areas to the health department at 812-689-5751 Ext. 296.

Horses are more susceptible to the disease than other animals and have been reported to have died from the disease in western Indiana. A vaccine for horses is available and horse owners should check with their veterinarians.