RAVENNA, Ohio -- The Portage County Health District has confirmed 88 mosquito pools that tested positive for West Nile virus as of Aug. 21, according to a media statement released Wednesday.
Health officials have identified specific locations where the virus has been detected, including Streetsboro City Park, Bolender Road in Suffield, and Fairview Cemetery in Hiram. The Kent City Health Department has also identified West Nile Virus in mosquito pools within Kent city limits.
The county has reported at least one confirmed human case of West Nile virus, which the Portage County Health District is actively investigating.
West Nile Virus-positive mosquito pools have been detected in 42 counties across Ohio. Statewide, there are seven confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus disease, along with seven confirmed human cases of the similar La Crosse virus.
The Portage County Health District is focusing on a comprehensive mosquito surveillance and prevention program that includes:
Dr. Amy Edwards, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at uh Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, explains that mosquito pool testing serves as an early warning system.
"The majority of people who have West Nile virus are asymptomatic," Edwards told 3News. "It's something like three quarters of people with West Nile are never diagnosed."
For those who do develop symptoms, Edwards says they mirror other viral illnesses.
"There are no symptoms that delineate West Nile virus from any other viral illness at the beginning," she said. "Fever -- which ironically, because we call it West Nile Fever -- the fever does tend to be low grade. It's not one of those viruses that causes really high-grade fevers -- back pain, body aches, headaches, chills -- I mean, nothing that sounds any different from the last time you had the flu."
The concern arises when the virus becomes "neuro invasive," affecting the brain. Edwards notes that age is a significant risk factor.
"Every decade of life, the risk of neuro invasive disease goes up," she said. "So for people over the age of 50, the risk does start to become much higher."
Health officials recommend residents take the following steps to protect themselves:
Edwards emphasizes the effectiveness of DEET-based repellents.
"DEET is the chemical most associated with full prevention of mosquito bites," she said, "and the nice side effect of DEET is that it also prevents tick bites."
Edwards notes that August is peak season for mosquito-borne diseases, and encourages vigilant protection measures.
While many people infected with West Nile virus do not show symptoms, some may experience fever, headaches, body aches, or more severe illness if the virus becomes neuro invasive.
Residents with questions can contact the Portage County Health District at 330-296-9919 or visit portagehealth.net for resources and updates. The health district provides real-time updates on trap locations and mosquito pools through their Mosquito Surveillance Dashboard, and statewide information is available through the Ohio Department of Health Vector-borne Disease Update.