Summit County Public Health Department Announces Positive West Nile Virus Detection in Munroe Falls
This message is to notify you that Summit County Public Health (SCPH) set a mosquito trap on Guise Park Dr on July 25, 2022. Mosquitoes in this trap tested positive for the West Nile Virus (WNV). It is not uncommon for mosquitoes caught in traps to test positive for the virus.
Most people who become infected with WNV do not have any symptoms. About one in five people who become infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Less than 1 percent of infected people develop a serious neurologic illness, such as encephalitis or meningitis (inflammation of the brain or surrounding tissues).
SCPH recommends avoiding mosquitoes and mosquito bites by doing the following:
- Use insect repellents when you go outdoors.
- Apply repellents on exposed skin that are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- Wear clothing treated with permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent for extra protection.
- Take extra care to use repellents from dusk to dawn.
- Wear light-colored clothing, long-sleeved shirts or jackets and long pants to protect against mosquito bites.
- Consider avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito biting hours.
Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure.
Because this trap was positive for the virus, SCPH will be spraying a one mile radius around this trap site the week of 8/15/22
SCPH does not conduct public notifications when West Nile Virus is detected in an area. West Nile Virus is endemic to Summit County and detecting the virus during our trapping activities is a common occurrence.