BATAVIA – A pool of mosquitos trapped in the village of Williamsburg’s Community Park has tested positive for West Nile Virus.

Clermont County Public Health staff has been trapping and collecting mosquitos at several sites throughout the county this summer as part of Ohio’s Mosquito Control Grant Program. Trapped mosquitos are then sent to a lab where they are tested for West Nile Virus.

West Nile Virus affects the central nervous system and can cause serious illness. However, about 80 percent of people who become infected with the virus will not show any symptoms.

So far this summer, 3,777 mosquitos have been tested in Clermont County. Statewide, the Ohio Department of Health has tested more than 234,000 mosquitos, with 479 testing positive for West Nile Virus.

“As the end of summer approaches, we see an increase in mosquito activity in our area,” said Clermont County Assistant Health Commissioner Tim Kelly. “We encourage everyone to protect themselves and avoid mosquito bites when they’re outside.

To avoid mosquito bites, citizens are encouraged to:

• Use EPA registered insect repellent and follow the label instructions.
• Wear long sleeves or long pants and cover as much of your skin as possible when you are outside, especially between dusk and dawn, when mosquitos are most active.
• Check your window and door screens to make sure there are no holes to allow mosquitos in your home.
• Eliminate standing water in your yard, where mosquitos can breed.
• Use larvicide or mosquito dunks if you have areas in your yard that contain water that can’t be drained.

For more information on West Nile Virus, visit the Centers for Disease Control website at

https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html.