The Centers for Disease Control reports a sharp spike in the number of West Nile Virus cases. We caught up with local officials to find out what they're doing to keep the mosquitoes from biting.
"I've seen more in previous years than this year. More around the water but I haven't been fishing much this year," Delphos Resident Devin Rabe said.
Rabe isn't the only person who's noticed fewer mosquitoes this year. Thanks to our hot, dry summer, the mosquito population is down. Despite that, the number of West Nile cases nationwide is the worst it's ever been. There are 16 cases in Ohio including one each in Allen and Putnam counties, and the CDC predicts the numbers will rise even higher.
"With these rains that have occurred the last couple of weeks we expect that the mosquito population will increase shortly," City of Delphos Safety Services Director Greg Burquist, said.
The City of Delphos has a couple of trucks that spray chemicals to keep mosquitoes at bay. So far this year they've only been out twice, but since the canal that runs through the city serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, city officials are closely watching the mosquito population worried not only about West Nile Virus, but other diseases as well.
"Mosquitoes not only deal and carry West Nile Virus they carry quite a few other diseases. It's not very common in Ohio, but they do carry Malaria and anytime people are subject to different allergic reactions when bitten by mosquitoes," Burquist said.
Even though they haven't been biting much this year Devin Rabe does what experts say everyone should do -- take precautions when spending time outside.
"I always spray myself for mosquitoes and spray around the area," Rabe said.
The West Nile season is still young; it runs through the end of September.
