West Nile Virus is Nothing to Sneeze At

The scare over West Nile virus has diminished since the disease first surfaced here a decade ago, but infected mosquitos are out there.

In fact, with an earlier-than-usual appearance of West Nile-infected mosquitos in Lake County last week -- probably due to the rainy spring -- it's time to take the threat seriously, health officials say.

No human cases have been reported in Ohio so far in 2011.

But the state has recorded human cases of the virus each year since 2002. There were 441 cases that year and five last year.

West Nile can lead to coma, paralysis and death.

According to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, technicians survey mosquitos throughout the county to monitor populations and diseases.

But the county no longer does a routine spraying of ditches on residential streets in the suburbs.

"That hasn't happened for the last couple years," Strongsville Service Director Joe Walker said. "There was some concern from people about spraying their lawns."

The city has picked up some , though, to keep the pests away from community events.

The county health department says there are three prevalent mosquito-borne viruses that cause encephalitis -- LaCrosse Encephalitis (LAC) virus is transmitted between small woodland animals and mosquitoes;

 St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE);

and West Nile virus (WNV) virus are transmitted between several species of mosquitoes and wild birds.

Humans can get the disease if they are bitten by an infected female mosquito.

Early symptoms of mosquito-borne disease may include nausea, fever, vomiting, and/or headache, which develop about two weeks after the bite.

 More serious cases include drowsiness, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, tremors, and convulsions (especially in infants).

Health officials recommend wearing insect repellent.