(WXYZ) — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says two people, one from Macomb County and the other from Oakland County, have tested positive for the Jamestown Canyon virus.
These are the first two Michigan residents to test positive for a mosquito-borne illness this year. These types of viruses also include West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. According to MDHHS, the risk of these types of viruses rises throughout mosquito season, peaking in August and September.
The Jamestown Canyon virus has been found in mosquito pools in Bay, Saginaw, and Washtenaw counties. West Nile has been found in mosquitos in Kalamazoo, Wayne, and Washtenaw counties.
According to MDHHS, most people who contract the Jamestown Canyon virus have no symptoms of illness, but some may become ill two to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms typically include a high fever, confusion, muscle weakness, and a severe headache. More serious complications include neurological illnesses such as meningitis and encephalitis.
According to the state, the best way to prevent any mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Precautions include:
- Using EPA-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol and 2-undecanone. Follow the product label instructions and reapply as directed.
- Don’t use repellent on children under 2 months old. Instead dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs and cover crib, stroller and baby carrier with mosquito netting.
- Wearing shoes and socks, light-colored long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors.
- Making sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings.
- Using bed nets when sleeping outdoors or in conditions with no window screens.
- Eliminating all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding around your home, including water in bird baths, abandoned swimming pools, wading pools, old tires and any other object holding water once a week.
