(WWJ) – Health officials in Michigan are reminding residents that “mosquito season is not over” after the state’s first case of West Nile virus this year was detected in an Oakland County resident.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported Wednesday the virus was found in a recent blood donation from the resident, who is experiencing no symptoms of illness.
Officials say routine screening for West Nile in blood donations “helps ensure the safety of the blood supply in Michigan and in the U.S.” Donations that test positive for WNV do not enter the blood supply. In 2021, WNV was detected in seven Michigan blood donors.
This first detection of the year is reminder to Michiganders that the best way to protect against West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses such Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEE) is to prevent mosquito bites.
“Take precautions such as using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeve shirts and long pants when outdoors during times when mosquitoes are active,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive.
MDHHS officials say West Nile – which is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird – has been found in mosquitoes collected in Iosco, Arenac, Huron, Genesee and Kent counties, as well as birds collected in Bay and Shiawassee counties.
No other human cases have been reported this year.
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Mosquito pools from Bay, Midland and Saginaw have tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus.
Officials say the risk for mosquito-borne illness rises throughout the state over the course of the mosquito season, which peaks in August and September.
Most people who contract West Nile virus have no clinical symptoms of illness, but some may become ill 3-15 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.
Symptoms of arbovirus infection, like West Nile, typically include a high fever, confusion, muscle weakness and a severe headache. More serious complications include neurological illnesses, such as meningitis and encephalitis.
The best way to prevent West Nile or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Precautions include:
• Using EPA registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol, and 2-undecanone; follow the product label instructions and reapply as directed.
• Don’t use repellent on children under 2 months old. Instead, dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs and cover crib, stroller and baby carrier with mosquito netting.
• Wearing shoes and socks, light-colored long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors.
• Making sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings.
• Using bed nets when sleeping outdoors or in conditions with no window screens.
• Eliminating all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding around your home, including water in bird baths, abandoned swimming pools, wading pools, old tires and any other object holding water once a week.
For more information, visit Michigan.gov/WestNileVirus or CDC.gov/WestNile.
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