Warning about potentially deadly mosquito-borne virus for northern Indiana residents

INDIANAPOLIS — Well being officers are warning northern Indiana residents to take precautions to keep away from being bitten by mosquitoes after detecting a uncommon and doubtlessly lethal mosquito-borne virus within the area.

State public well being and animal well being officers issued the warning Thursday after figuring out that the japanese equine encephalitis virus was energetic in a number of northern Indiana counties, with 4 horses testing optimistic for the virus.

State veterinarian Dr. Bret Marsh stated the virus “is a critical risk to each horses and folks in northern Indiana” till the primary arduous freeze of the autumn season happens.

As of Tuesday, the Indiana State Board of Animal Well being stated two horses in LaGrange County and one horse in Kosciusko County have examined optimistic for the virus.

No human circumstances of the virus illness or mosquitoes contaminated with the virus have been reported in Indiana this 12 months. However officers stated that as a result of northern Indiana comprises appropriate habitat for mosquitoes that may transmit the virus “people and horses in all northern Indiana counties are doubtlessly in danger.”

Residents have been urged to keep away from being outside when mosquitoes are current and take different steps, together with eliminating breeding grounds for the bugs.

Whereas uncommon, the virus could cause critical sickness and has a fatality charge of round 33% or increased, and many individuals who recuperate should still expertise long-term issues, officers stated. Signs of the virus illness embody chills, fever, physique aches and joint ache.