Rushville, In. — A report from the Rushville Republican says mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been found there. Health departments from Rush County and the State of Indiana confirmed that several specimens have tested positive.
State officials now say West Nile has been identified in 43 of 92 counties in Indiana. No human cases of the sickness have been reported in Rush County.
State officials offer the following advice:
- When possible, avoid places and times when mosquitoes bite.
- Use an insect repellant containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide).
- Wear shoes, socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time, or from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. Clothing should be light colored and made of tightly woven materials to keep mosquitoes away from the skin.
- Make sure all windows and doors have screens, and that all screens are in good repair.
- Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure.
Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Even a small bucket that has stagnant water in it for seven days can become home to up to 1,000 mosquitoes.
