1 case of West Nile confirmed in Bay County

BAY COUNTY — One case of West Nile virus has been confirmed in Bay County as of Friday, and health officials are reminding people to take precautions to avoid the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses.

“There can be more human transmission cases,” said Heather Kretzer, Florida Department of Health in Bay County public information officer. “We want people to have more prevention methods.”

West Nile is a viral infection spread by mosquito bites. Eight of 10 people who contract the disease don’t have any symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When symptoms do prevent, they can include high fever, headache, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and vision loss.

West Nile cases usually appear during peak mosquito season, which is in the summer months.

Bay health officials said people should remember to “Drain and cover.” Drain water from trash cans, buckets, pool covers, toys and any other items that hold or collect water. They also advise throwing away old tires, cans, pots and anything else unneeded that retains water.

“Cover” comes into play when people cover their skin with clothing and mosquito repellent. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, and IR3535 are effective, according to the health department, though all repellents should be used based on their labels. Not all repellents are suitable for children, for example.

Those who work in areas where the pests might lurk are encouraged to wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves. Doors and windows should be covered with screens to block out mosquitoes.

“Drain and cover is easy to remember,” Kretzer said. “We have a lot of rain in the summer, and you can forget to dump water and check for it. Make sure you take precautions."