Lexington health department highlights mosquito prevention after fourth person contracts West Nile Virus

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - The Kentucky Department for Public Health has received 19 reports of West Nile Virus infections this year, which is almost three times more than the average, and Fayette County is no exception.

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department announced another person has contracted the mosquito-borne illness, West Nile Virus. This most recent case brings the total to four over the span of about one month.

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While the confirmed number is four, LFCHD Environmental Health Supervisor Luke Mathis said it’s possible that more people have been infected but had mild symptoms and recovered on their own.

LFCHD lists the symptoms of West Nile as a fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, swollen lymph glands, neck stiffness, tremors, vision loss, muscle weakness, or a skin rash on the chest, stomach, and back.

“I’ve read less than one percent [of people] actually show serious symptoms, which can kind of take the form of encephalitis,” said Mathis.

According to Mathis, mosquitoes often become infected after feeding on a migratory bird, which is one reason the disease is spreading.

It also stems from the reproduction of the sick insects that lay their eggs in stagnant or standing water. Stagnant water can develop from natural causes, such as rainfall or human activity like filling a dog bowl or bird bath.

Eric Goff, the founder of a Lexington mosquito control service, said stagnant water becomes more common this time of year. As he sprays his clients’ yards, he finds fallen leaves make for a moist breeding bed.

“You’ve got gutters that clog up, any type of moisture they can breed in, so it’s as little as a water bottle cap,” said Goff.

Mathis suggested that if people are experiencing mosquito problems, they should search their property for any standing water and do what they can to empty it, which will ultimately help reduce the population.

Frequent rainfall can also help to naturally wash out stagnant water, but Central Kentucky’s recent dry spell has allowed mosquitoes to find more places to lay their larvae.

Mathis said the LFCHD mosquito control team sprays insecticide in the areas where a resident reported contracting West Nile Virus. They also place traps in six different locations throughout the county on a weekly basis to identify the largest populations and manage the pests.

The supervisor hopes winter will help.

“Once we get our first frost, our first hard frost, mosquitoes will pretty much be nonexistent,” said Mathis.

Mathis said it’s impossible to eliminate all mosquitoes, but the LFCHD will do what it can to reduce the numbers and reduce the chances of disease.