West Nile mosquito found in Lisbon area

People living in another Valley community are being told to protect themselves from mosquito bites after the West Nile Virus was found in mosquitoes trapped in the Lisbon area.

The Columbiana County Health Department reported the discovery in a news release issued on Monday.

There have been no human cases of West Nile reported in Columbiana County.

According to state officials, ten mosquitoes in Mahoning County, and three in Trumbull County have tested positive for West Nile this season.

There have been fourteen human cases of West Nile Virus in Ohio and eleven cases of La Crosse encephalitis, which is also carried by mosquitoes.

Fifteen veterinary cases of West Nile have been recorded in Ohio.

The Centers for Disease Control offers these tips to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites:

Use Insect Repellent

Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients below. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

DEET

Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)

IR3535

Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)

Para-menthane-diol (PMD)

2-undecanone

Find the right insect repellent for you by using EPA’s search tool.

Tips for babies and children

Always follow instructions when applying insect repellent to children.

Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.

Instead, dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.

Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting.

Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children under 3 years old.

Do not apply insect repellent to a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin.

Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child’s face.

Tips for Everyone

Always follow the product label instructions.

Reapply insect repellent as directed.

Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.

If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.

Natural insect repellents (repellents not registered with EPA)

We do not know the effectiveness of non-EPA registered insect repellents, including some natural repellents.

To protect yourself against diseases spread by mosquitoes, CDC and EPA recommend using an EPA-registered insect repellent.

Choosing an EPA-registered repellent ensures the EPA has evaluated the product for effectiveness.

Visit the EPA website to learn more.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants

Treat clothing and gear

Use permethrin to treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.

Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes.

Permethrin-treated clothing provides protection after multiple washings.

Read product information to find out how long the protection will last.

If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions.

Do not use permethrin products directly on skin.

Take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors

Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outdoors.

Use air conditioning, if available.

Stop mosquitoes from laying eggs in or near water.

Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers.

Check indoors and outdoors.

Prevent mosquito bites when traveling overseas

Choose a hotel or lodging with air conditioning or screens on windows and doors.

Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are outside or in a room that does not have screens.

Buy a bed net at your local outdoor store or online before traveling overseas.

Choose a WHOPES-approved bed net: compact, white, rectangular, with 156 holes per square inch, and long enough to tuck under the mattress.

Permethrin-treated bed nets provide more protection than untreated nets.

Do not wash bed nets or expose them to sunlight. This will break down the insecticide more quickly.

For more information on bed nets, visit CDC’s page on insecticide-treated bed nets.

For more information on traveling overseas, visit Travelers’ Health.