West Nile Virus found in Dubois County mosquito samples
The Dubois County Health Department is urgin residents to take precautions against West Nile virus after two mosquito samples in the county recently tested positive for the disease.
Health officials recommend the following steps to avoid mosquito bites:
- Apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing and exposed skin
- Wear light-colored clothing
- Avoid wet, heavily vegetated areas where mosquitoes breed
- Limit time outdoors from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active
The department also outlined ways residents can reduce mosquito breeding grounds around their homes:
- Eliminate standing water on the property
- Repair failing septic systems
- Remove containers that can collect water
- Clean clogged gutters
- Keep grass and shrubbery trimmed, since tall vegetation gives mosquitoes a place to shelter
- Keep swimming pools clean and chlorinated
Health officials noted that mosquitoes can reproduce in standing water in as little as four days, making regular removal of water sources one of the most effective ways to limit their spread.
