COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Mosquitoes are still biting with the warm early fall weather and the health department in Coldwater is reporting Branch County’s first case this year of West Nile virus, which was detected in 3 dead birds turned in by county residents to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Branch Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency also said yesterday another bird, a wild turkey, was submitted by a St. Joseph County resident in late August.
Steve Todd, Health Officer for the agency, says the positive birds mean that people living in the 3 counties need to be more vigilant in their personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites. West Nile virus is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, which acquire the virus by feeding on infected birds.
According to Todd, the West Nile Virus seems to be here to stay, so the best way to avoid the disease is to reduce exposure to and eliminate breeding grounds for mosquitoes. While there have been no human cases of West Nile in the tri-county area, there have been cases reported in other Michigan counties.
The vast majority of people who are infected with West Nile virus do not get sick. Those who do become ill usually experience mild symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle ache, rash, and fatigue. Less than 1% of people infected with the virus get seriously ill.
