**Mosquito in Arcanum Community Baseball Park Tests Positive for West Nile Virus (WNV)**
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Arcanum, Darke County, Ohio
**Mosquito in Arcanum Community Baseball Park Tests Positive for West Nile Virus (WNV)**
The Darke County General Health District (DCGHD), in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), has confirmed that a mosquito collected from Arcanum Community Baseball Park has tested positive for WNV. This marks the first time a mosquito has tested positive for this virus in Darke County since before 2001.
The positive mosquito was identified through routine sample collection by the DCGHD as part of its ongoing efforts to monitor and control the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses. The ODH carried out the testing on August 14, 2024.
The detection of WNV in our local mosquito population is a reminder that Arcanum residents should take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites, particularly during the peak mosquito season.
**Protective Measures:**
The DCGHD and ODH recommend the following steps to reduce the risk of mosquito bites and the potential spread of WNV.
- Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying or treating any standing water on your property (even small amounts of standing water can be a breeding site for mosquitoes.)
- Make sure screens on windows and doors are free of holes or rips. You may also opt to utilize air conditioning instead of open windows if possible.
- Keep swimming pool water treated & circulating. Keep empty and covered when not in use.
- Ensure roof gutters drain properly & clean clogged gutters in the spring & fall.
- While outdoors, apply repellents registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on exposed skin, and wear light colors and long sleeves and pants.
The DCGHD will continue monitoring and managing the mosquito population in Arcanum and Darke County. In addition to monitoring, the Village of Arcanum has scheduled an extra application with Bug-A-Boo for our village and treated Painters Creek with Natular XRT tablets for large bodies of water and Arcanum Community Baseball Park. Lastly, we have limited free mosquito larvae control tablets at the Village Offices.
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Mosquito in Arcanum Community Baseball Park Tests Positive for West Nile Virus (WNV)