No human cases of West Nile Virus in the state this year but a dead crow in Northwest Wisconsin in Douglas County recently tested positive. Diep Johnson, with the State Division of Public Health, says the virus surfaced last year in late May. This year the first cases were reported at the end of June . Flooding has been a factor this year in the mosquito count.
Mosquitoes get the virus by feeding on infected birds and the virus spreads to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. All of this year's West Nile cases have been in animals.
Johnson says to prevent mosquitoes trim your trees and bushes as the pests will stay there to avoid the hot sun. Health experts have long suggested using bug spray with DEET, but the Centers for Disease Control this year approved Picaridin and IR 3535. Johnson says it's very important to follow the label's instructions use. Picaridin and IR 3535 have been used in Europe for some time.
