Staff report

A human case of the West Nile Virus has been reported by the Trumbull County Combined Health District and it was confirmed by the Ohio Department of Health.

The health department issued a news release Friday asking the community to be vigilant against being bitten by a mosquito.

The community where the case was reported was not revealed.

Health officials offer these tips to guard against mosquito bites:

• Use insect repellents when you go outdoors:

• Apply repellents on exposed skin registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

* Wear clothing treated with permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent for extra protection.

• Use products according to label instructions to optimize safety and effectiveness.

• Do not spray repellents on the skin under your clothing.

• Take care during peak mosquito biting hours.

• Take extra care to use repellents from dusk to dawn.

• Wear light-colored clothing, long-sleeved shirts or jackets and long pants to protect against mosquito bites.

• Consider avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito biting hours.

• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure.

• Don’t let mosquitoes breed around your home. Empty standing water from flowerpots, buckets, barrels, tarps/covers and wheelbarrows on a regular basis. Discard trash such as tin cans, plastic containers and other water-holding containers that have accumulated on your property.

• Dispose of discarded tires properly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out.

• Change the water in pet dishes frequently.

• Replace the water in birdbaths weekly.

• Check and clean clogged roof gutters at least twice annually so they will drain properly.

• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with mosquito-eating fish.

• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, even those that are not being used.

• Keep children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when they are not being used.

The symptoms of West Nile Virus can vary and most people are asymptomatic.

Symptoms generally begin three days to two weeks after a bite from an infected mosquito and include:

• Fever

• Headache

• Body aches: and joint pain

• Muscle aches: and weakness

• Nausea and vomiting

• Prolonged fatigue

• Skin rash

• Swollen lymph nodes and / or sore throat

For questions about the West Nile Virus, contact the health department at 330-675-2489.