Three Rivers Public Health Department reports that a mosquito pool in Dodge County has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV).
This is the second mosquito pool that has tested positive for WNV within the 3RPHD jurisdiction this summer. Mosquito surveillance, conducted through trapping and testing,
detected the positive pool.
There is no vaccine to prevent WNV. The best way to protect yourself from WNV is to protect yourself from mosquitoes.
People can reduce their risk of mosquito bites by:
• Using a mosquito repellant that has DEET.
• Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes, and socks.
• Taking extra precautions when going outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most
active.
• Removing standing water where mosquitoes breed (or use dunks).
• Emptying and changing the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels and potted
trays at least once a week, if not more often.
• Making sure window and door screens are “bug tight” and repair or replace torn screens.
Protect yourself and your loved ones from mosquito bites this summer. Free mosquito wipes and mosquito dunks are available to residents of Dodge, Washington, and Saunders County. Mosquito wipes and mosquito dunks can be picked up at Three Rivers Public Health Department, located in Fremont (2400 N. Lincoln Ave.), Wahoo (1320 31st St.), and Blair (1762 Washington St., Suite 205).
About 1 in 5 people who are infected with WNV develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness. People over 50 and those with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable to the disease and are more likely to experience serious consequences.
Three Rivers Public Health Department conducts mosquito surveillance and testing each summer. Three Rivers also monitors West Nile by taking reports of dead birds. If you find a dead bird in the Corvid family (American Crow, Black-billed Magpie, Blue Jay), please report it at this link: https://epi
dhhs.ne.gov/redcap/surveys/?s=E78D8A3JK4343E4X.
For more information, call Three Rivers Public Health Department at 402-727-5396 or visit www.threeriverspublichealth.org.
