Conneaut health department studying mosquitos
Conneaut Health Commissioner Nichele Blood said the health department wants to catch mosquitos around the city.
'We set a trap up and it will catch mosquitos for us,' she said.
The mosquitos will then be taken to the health department office and frozen for a day, before being sent to an Ohio Department of Health lab for study.
Blood said they are primarily interested in learning what species of mosquitos reside in the Conneaut area, and if they carry West Nile Virus.
Blood said there have not been any recorded cases of the disease in northeast Ohio recently.
According to the ODH website, there have been no cases of the disease in people or mosquitos surveilled across the state so far this year.
Blood said the Conneaut Health Department is also monitoring for other mosquito-borne illnesses, including Eastern Equine Encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis, La Crosse virus, malaria, zika and yellow fever.
'Most are not common,' she said.
The program is being paid for by part of a $8,150 grant the health department received from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The CHD used $5,600 to fund a tire collection at the Conneaut Spring Clean-Up last weekend.
Blood said the rest of the grant money is going toward funding the mosquito surveillance and promoting mosquito awareness in Conneaut.
Blood said mosquitos thrive in areas where there is standing water, especially unused tires.
Blood recommended people take care of items that contain standing water on their properties, including tires, bird baths and toys left outside.
People should also make sure to fix screen doors so mosquitos do not get indoors, and make sure to wear mosquito repellent.
The CHD will be providing mosquito spray to the public and sending out flyers spreading awareness, Blood said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
E&E News
3 hours ago
- E&E News
Breaking down summer's mosquito-borne diseases
West Nile virus in Italy, chikungunya in China, dengue in France. With summer in full bloom, mosquitoes are doing what mosquitoes do: keeping you up at night and spreading vector-borne viruses. European countries, particularly in the south, have already reported their share of outbreaks this summer, while China is seeing an alarming spike in chikungunya cases. Although these diseases are not new, their presence in Europe is shifting as climate change makes environmental conditions more habitable for certain types of mosquito. Here's what you need to know. Advertisement The West Nile virus is endemic to Europe — meaning it is found across the continent all year round. The virus is spread by Culex pipiens, or the northern house mosquito (native to Europe), which spreads it from infected birds to humans and some animals. It is asymptomatic in 80 percent of humans — but can lead to fever and, in severe cases, cause neurological diseases and become deadly.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
New Bedford mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile virus again. What to know.
West Nile virus has been detected in a mosquito sample in New Bedford for the second time in recent weeks. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health notified local health officials about the finding, which was in a primarily bird-biting mosquito near Oak Grove Cemetery on Parker Street, according to a community announcement. The risk level for West Nile virus in New Bedford, Fairhaven and Acushnet is moderate. Preventative measures include wearing mosquito repellent between dusk and dawn, wearing long sleeves and pants during those hours, using mosquito netting on baby carriages and playpens, and emptying standing water around homes twice weekly. The Bristol County Mosquito Project conducted targeted ground-spraying Aug. 14 in the Oak Grove Cemetery area. This spraying supplements the county's normal weekly ground-spraying, which occurs seasonally from early June through September and targets parks and other locations that host large public events. Weekly sprayings take place every Thursday during the summer between 2 a.m. and sunrise in locations around Buttonwood Park, Brooklawn Park, Fort Taber, Hazelwood Park, Riverside Park, Clasky Common Park, Ashley Park, Wing's Court, Custom House Square and other parts of downtown. Residents near targeted areas may want to close their windows in the evenings before spraying. In the event of inclement weather, spraying will be moved to early Friday morning. The annual monitoring program involves crews placing traps and collecting specimens to monitor the mosquito population throughout the summer. It also helps track whether any mosquitoes are carrying Eastern equine encephalitis or West Nile virus. West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause illness ranging from a mild fever to more serious disease. It is most commonly spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. Positive mosquito samples for West Nile are not uncommon in the summer months and have been found in cities and towns across the state in recent weeks. The New Bedford Health Department recommends several precautionary measures to help protect against mosquito bites: Be aware of peak mosquito hours: Mosquitoes are most active from dusk to dawn. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities during these times or take extra precautions with repellent and protective clothing, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites: Wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors can help keep mosquitoes away from your skin, even though it may be challenging in hot weather. Apply insect repellent when outdoors: Use a repellent with DEET, permethrin, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to the product label instructions. DEET products should not be used on infants under 2 months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin. Drain standing water: Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water. Limit breeding sites around your home by draining or removing items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains, empty unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently. Install or repair screens: Some mosquitoes can enter homes. Keep them outside by ensuring tight-fitting screens on all windows and doors. For more information and the state's risk-level map, visit This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: West Nile virus detected in mosquito sample in New Bedford Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Highest number of West Nile cases in a day reported in these California counties
West Nile virus activity is on the rise in some northern California counties, according to the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District. Sacramento-Yolo counties Three dead birds and 13 mosquito samples tested positive for the virus on Aug. 13, 'the highest number of positive results reported in a single day this year,' the agency said in a news release. While the birds and mosquito samples were found in different areas, most of the day's activity was in the town of Davis 'and other rural areas in Yolo County,' officials said in the release. Routine monitoring helped the district detect the 'increase in virus activity and overall mosquito populations due to the very warm temperatures of recent days,' officials said. Hot weather speeds up the mosquito lifecycle and can increase the risk of the virus to residents. As of Aug. 13, 29 mosquito samples and 17 dead birds have tested positive for the virus in Sacramento County, officials said. Sixteen mosquito samples have tested positive in Yolo County. The virus first cropped up in the capital region in June, when mosquitoes collected near Gibson Ranch in Elverta tested positive for it, the Sacramento Bee previously reported. 'Mosquito and West Nile virus season is definitely underway, and it's important for residents to be vigilant in preventing mosquitoes from breeding in their backyards,' District Manager Gary Goodman said in a statement. 'Mosquito control is a collaborative effort, and we encourage everyone to do their part.' Residents had to ramp up mitigation efforts in 2024 after record-breaking storms drenched California in 2023 — and West Nile cases rose 980% in a one-year period, the Sacramento Bee previously reported. Two people died and 54 people contracted the virus in Sacramento County in 2023, the Bee reported. Placer-El Dorado counties Nearby areas are also facing the surge. One week after the virus was confirmed in Sacramento mosquitoes, the Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District confirmed its first positive case from mosquito samples collected from a rural area in the western part of the county, the Sacramento Bee previously reported. Like the first positive sample in Sacramento, the Placer County mosquito sample also came from an agricultural area, one west of the city of Roseville near Phillip Road. 'With the ongoing warm temperatures this season, we anticipate we will see more West Nile virus activity after this initial detection,' District Manager Joel Buettner previously said in a statement. 'We urge residents to take protective measures, including wearing an EPA-registered repellent, to prevent mosquito bites. Our team is actively conducting surveillance and treatments to help reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease transmission to our community.' The virus has not been detected in El Dorado County this year. In 2023, a bird sample tested positive in early August, then a person contracted it about two weeks later, the Sacramento Bee reported. A person infected with the virus died in November 2023, and the virus killed seven people across the four-county region of Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer and Yolo in 2023 — making it the deadliest year for the disease in the past decade prior, the Bee reported. First human West Nile virus infection confirmed in Northern California How does West Nile virus spread? What are the symptoms? West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne illness that can affect people, horses and birds. Mosquitoes become infected after feeding on birds that carry the virus, then spread it. A vaccine is available for horses, but there's no vaccine — or cure — for people. Human cases are typically mild, but about 1 in 150 can lead to serious illness or death. Most people who are infected don't experience symptoms, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 1 in 5 people infected with West Nile will have symptoms 'like fever, headache, body aches,' including joint pains, as well as nausea and vomiting, or rash days after they're bitten by an infected mosquito, according to the California Department of Health. In severe cases, people might experience encephalitis or meningitis, which can be deadly. One bite is all it takes for the virus to spread, so effective prevention is the best way to protect yourself. How to stay safe Here are ways to stay safe, according to the Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District: Use insect repellent with EPA-registered ingredients like DEET, Picaridin, IR3535 or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Cover your skin with long sleeves and pants. Get rid of standing water on your property. Avoid going outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. The mosquito and vector control districts have also ramped up surveillance and treatments targeting both larvae and adults, including ground fogging in areas where positive mosquitoes and birds were found, officials said. 'While it has been a relatively mild season for WNV so far, we are in the middle of summer and conditions can change quickly,' Goodman, the Mosquito and Vector Control district manager in Sacramento, said in a statement. 'We expect to see continued activity over the next few weeks. Protecting yourself is key—always apply an effective mosquito repellent when spending time outdoors.' What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@ Solve the daily Crossword
