Courtesy-in.gov
INDIANAPOLIS — State health officials are urging Indiana residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites after the first West Nile virus disease case of 2023 was identified in a Johnson County resident. There were also multiple detections of West Nile virus in mosquitoes across the state. No additional information about the patient will be released due to privacy laws.
To date, 225 mosquito samples taken from 60 counties have tested positive for West Nile virus.
State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., says, “Mosquito season is not over, and simple prevention steps can help Hoosiers enjoy the outdoors without putting themselves at unnecessary risk.”
Health officials recommend the following measures to prevent mosquito-borne diseases:
- Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to clothes and exposed skin
- Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are active (especially early morning, late afternoon, and the hours between dusk and dawn)
- Cover exposed skin by wearing a hat, long sleeves, and long pants where mosquitoes are especially active, such as in wooded areas
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of the home
West Nile virus can cause West Nile fever, which can include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands, or a rash. Some people will develop a more severe form of the disease affecting the nervous system, including inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, muscle paralysis, or even death. People older than 60 years are at higher risk of severe West Nile virus disease.
Visit the Indiana Mosquito-Borne Activity Dashboard to see the latest updates on human cases and positive mosquito pools.
