Minor Threat of West Nile in Summit County

You've probably heard television news reports that cases of West Nile- infected mosquitoes have shown up ahead of schedule in the Cleveland area. 

Does that make you fear hordes of disease-bearing mosquitoes are swarming south to Summit County? 

It probably shouldn't.

The threat of West Nile Virus has drastically reduced in Summit County since 2001, when tests first revealed 57 pools of mosquitoes that carried the virus. (By the way, pools aren't pools of water, it's a testing measure we'll get back to later.)

And statewide figures show no human cases of West Nile Virus have been found so far in 2011.

According to the Summit County Health District finding them is the good news.

"We really try hard to find (positive pools), said Terry Tuttle, the district's environmental health superviser. Not finding West Nile would mean we're not doing an effective job of looking for it — it's endemic."

Tuttle said the SCHD has found three positive pools of West Nile Virus so far this year, compared with nine cases in 2010 and five in 2009. 

Pools are what the vials are called that contain mosquitoes. Those samples are taken from testing sites around the county each week. Each pool/vial contains up to 50 mosquitoes, that are tested by the Ohio Department of Health. If any one of the insects in the vial tests positive, the whole vial is called a positive pool.

"One of the positive pools is on the Akron/Tallmadge border on the Akron side, one is in the city of New Franklin and one is in the National Park in Cuyahoga Falls," Tuttle said.

The pools are the main roadmap the county uses to plan its spraying. "People always want me to give them a testing schedule for the season, but we can't put out a schedule like the Cleveland Indians," Tuttle said. "We have to know what's in the traps."

West Nile virus can lead to coma, paralysis and death. Tuttle says the virus is "opportunistic" and is more likely to infect the elderly, the very young and those with a pre-existing illness or compromised immune system. 

"At home, you should dump your kids' swimming pool about once a week or any bucket or container that collects standing water," he said. Check your downspouts once a week, and use a repellent if you're going out in the evening."

Here are a few numbers that put the county's efforts into perspective:

• There are 60 different species of mosquitoes in Ohio. Only one species, the culex, carries enough of the West Nile toxin to transmit the disease to people. The bugs also carry encephalitis and malaria.
• The county sets 30 traps a day at various locations from which it sends vials/pools out for West Nile testing.
• About 1,500 locations in the county hold enough standing water long enough to breed mosquitoes. The county keeps a close eye on the sites and -- if they cannot be emptied -- treats them with pesticides.
• Anyone in the county can decline spraying of their property. Currently there are about 150 locations in Summit County that have opted out of the program.

You can find out which area the county is spraying on a weekly basis by calling 330-926-5667 or visiting the SCHD website.

The health department has a Web page for more information and safety tips. Call 330-923-8856 to report areas of standing water.

Read tips to bug-proof your home and treat mosquito bites here.