For Immediate Release
North Platte, NE — West Central District Health Department has confirmed that a mosquito pool collected in Lincoln County has tested positive for Jamestown Canyon Virus (JCV). While human cases are rare, the detection means the virus is present in our area and residents should take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
Jamestown Canyon Virus is spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Most people who become infected do not develop symptoms, but when illness does occur, it can range from mild fever and fatigue to more serious illnesses like meningitis or encephalitis.
“Most mosquito bites are just annoying, but some can make you sick,” said Meghan Trevino, Executive Director of West Central District Health Department. “The good news is you can protect yourself from several mosquito-related illnesses, like Jamestown Canyon Virus and West Nile Virus, just by doing a few easy things like wearing bug spray and dumping out water where mosquitoes might lay eggs.”
The CDC recommends the following precautions to reduce your risk:
- · Use EPA-registered insect repellent whenever you’re outdoors, especially during peak mosquito activity times.
- · Wear long sleeves and pants to cover exposed skin when possible.
- · Dump standing water around your home (birdbaths, buckets, old tires, clogged gutters) to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
- · Check and repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside.
There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for Jamestown Canyon Virus. People who develop symptoms — especially severe headache, high fever, or neurological changes — should seek medical care.
For more information about Jamestown Canyon Virus, visit wcdhd.org or the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/jamestown-canyon.