Knox Public Health reported on September 16 that a second location in Knox County, specifically in Clinton Township, tested positive for the West Nile Virus.
"If you must be outdoors when mosquitoes are active, cover up by wearing shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Also, wear light colors. They are less attractive to mosquitoes," said Knox Public Health Environmental Director Nate Overholt, according to a news release.
According to the news release, the positive sample was collected near Brookwood Drive and Newark Road in Clinton Township. Knox Public Health received notification of the positive test results from the Ohio Department of Health.
Knox Public Health conducted mosquito spraying on September 17 in Clinton Township after 8 p.m. The roads affected included Blackjack Road, Brookwood Drive, Club Drive, Culbertson Drive, Everview Drive, Glen Road, Greenbriar Drive, Harvey Street, Meadowbrook Drive, Millstone Lane, Newark Road (from Glen Road out to Rangeline Road), Sharon Drive, Southridge Drive, Summit Drive, Wedgewood Drive, Westwood Drive, Winny Drive, and Woodland Drive.
Overholt said that Knox Public Health was spraying pesticides in areas where the positive mosquitoes were trapped. The environmental health staff also treated standing water areas with larvicide to help reduce the mosquito population. He urged residents to protect themselves from mosquitoes by using insect repellent containing DEET or other FDA-approved repellents and emptying water-holding containers such as plant saucers and outdoor toys around their homes.
According to the release from Knox Public Health, Knox County was one of 42 Ohio counties with positive West Nile Virus activity. As of September 11, the Ohio Department of Health and local health departments placed traps in 47 counties this summer. They collected nearly 11,265 samples and tested more than 388,437 mosquitoes. A total of 21 confirmed cases of West Nile Virus in humans were reported.
