Two human cases of West Nile virus for 2018 have been confirmed in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Health, although only mosquitoes have been found with the virus in Washington and surrounding counties to date.

The first human case required a 71-year-old Lake County man to be hospitalized; the second case was confirmed in Chillicothe by the Ross County Health District on Friday.

“The individual resides in Chillicothe but the Health District has been unable to conduct interviews to narrow down where the exposure may have occurred,” said a press release from the health district.

In Ohio, 20 counties have reported West Nile Virus activity in mosquitoes collected and tested as a part of statewide surveillance to date. Thirty-four human West Nile Virus cases were reported by the Ohio Department of Health in 2017, including five deaths. The Ohio Department of Health has noted that this year’s West Nile Virus activity in mosquitoes is the highest the state has seen this early in the season since 2012, when Ohio reported 122 human West Nile Virus cases for the year.

“ODH tests mosquitoes submitted primarily by participating local health departments as part of mosquito-borne disease surveillance in Ohio,” said Russ Kennedy, communications director for ODH.

This is the first year that Morgan County has been able to participate in the mosquito surveillance program, thanks to a grant from ODH.

“We have 14 townships in our county and pools of mosquitoes are tested from each township,” explained Rebecca Aber, administrator for the Morgan County Department of Health. “We’ve never had any confirmed cases that I am aware of and I’ve lived here all my life, but this is the first year we are doing the testing.”

The grant has allowed the county to hire an intern for the summer, to spray at night and to offer community outreach in the form of mosquito-repellent wipes and informational brochures.

Data about different counties in Ohio is available through the Ohio Administrative Code which allows health departments to have access to information on different cases, according to Amy Murphy, southeast Ohio Regional Epidemiologist for the Noble County Health Department.

“I’m able to look at surrounding counties and see whether a case has been contracted here or elsewhere. It’s always reported to the hometown, so even if the person contracted West Nile virus in Columbus, if they’re from Marietta, it’s reported to the Marietta Health Department,” Murphy said.

So far, there have been no confirmed human cases in people in Washington, Morgan, Monroe or Noble counties, though Noble has had human cases in years past, according to Murphy.

Washington County Health Commissioner Dick Wittberg said there have been pools of mosquitoes that have tested positive in Washington County.

“It is in the area but it can be in the area and not get a human infected,” he said.

The most recent testing results show:

¯ Washington – 594 mosquitoes batched into 14 samples tested, with five samples testing positive for WNV

¯ Morgan – 96 mosquitoes batched into 22 samples tested, one sample positive for WNV

¯ Monroe – None tested

¯ Noble – 621 mosquitoes batched into 17 samples tested, one sample positive for WNV

“The most susceptible people are the very young, elderly and immunosuppressed. A lot of people already have been exposed to it and just don’t know it because most people don’t show symptoms,” Murphy said.

Symptoms of West Nile virus resemble the flu in most cases. Severe cases can present with high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.

The best ways to decrease exposure to West Nile virus — which is actually a bird virus transmitted to people through mosquitoes — is to get rid of any standing water, use screens in windows, dress appropriately with long sleeves and pants and consider an insect repellent.