CHARLESTON, W.Va. — More cases of the Zika virus are being reported throughout the country, with a new travel advisory in northern Miami, but the Kanawha-Charleston Health Dept. says mosquitoes carrying the disease are not found in the Mountain State.
“The mosquitoes that cause Zika, we have not found any in West Virginia,” said KCHD Public Information Officer John Law. “There have been some cases in West Virginia, but they have been people who have traveled elsewhere.”
Law said that mosquitoes have been known to cause some other health issues in West Virginia besides Zika.
“We have diseases that are caused by mosquitoes. La Crosse encephalitis (LACV) and meningitis,” he explained. “People need to be very aware of those because those can be caused by mosquitoes here in West Virginia.”
There are many steps residents can take to reduce mosquito risk, Law said, including eliminating any standing, stagnant water around houses or apartments.
“If they have any standing water around their home or in their yard, that can be a birdbath, an old tire; they need to get rid of that,” Law said. “They need to wear loose-fitting clothing if they go out in the evening. Long sleeves, loose fitting clothing.”
Law said the KCHD was working with the State Bureau of Public Health to test mosquitoes to ensure they’re not carrying Zika, but residents should still be mindful of other mosquito-borne illnesses.
“You can never say never, but we don’t have any evidence of them migrating that far north. It can certainly happen,” Law said. “We know it can be transmitted sexually, people who have traveled to an area where there is Zika. The mosquito that bites you in West Virginia is probably not going to have Zika.”
Zika would most likely be contracted in a foreign country, or in the southern United States, Law said.
He recommended calling a health care provider in the case of getting a mosquito bite and having any problems.
“Don’t delay. Call your health provider and get some attention to it.”