West Nile Virus in Jefferson County

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – In the Louisiville Metro area, the Department of Public Health & Wellness has reported mosquitos infected with West Nile Virus across Jefferson County.

West Nile Virus is a disease manifesting through flu-like symptoms and rash. When an individual is dealing with a severe case, one can develop Encephalitis and Meningitis. Chances of contracting the virus are low and only 2 out of 10 people show symptoms, with only 1 out of 150 developing more severe symptoms.

Matt Vanderpool, an Environmental Health Specialist from LMPHW specializing in mosquitos said that the species known as the culex pipians, the common house mosquito is abundant in the state and endemic to the United States, meaning it “regularly found among particular people or in a certain area.” Though odds are low, Vanderpool highly encouraged the use of insect repellant products to mitigate the chance of  misquito born illnesses as other species can spread other illnesses as well.