Confirmation of West Nile Virus case in Kentucky triggers health warnings for local residents to take preventive measures
First Human Case of West Nile Virus Confirmed in Louisville
Louisville, KY - A case of West Nile virus has been confirmed in a Louisville resident, marking the first human case of the virus in Kentucky for 2025. This development underscores the importance of taking precautions to protect oneself against mosquito bites, as the virus has been present in local mosquitoes for years.
In response to this development, Louisville's Chief Health Strategist, Connie Mendel, has urged everyone to take extra care during peak mosquito-biting hours, which are early morning and dusk. To help combat the spread of the West Nile virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health officials, including Connie Mendel, have recommended several prevention measures.
Firstly, the use of EPA-registered insect repellents containing active ingredients like DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or PMD is advised to prevent mosquito bites. It is essential to apply these repellents according to the label instructions for optimal safety and effectiveness.
In addition to using repellents, wearing protective clothing such as loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants, ideally treated with permethrin, is recommended. It is also crucial to eliminate standing water around homes, as mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water. Regularly empty containers like buckets, flowerpot saucers, toys, tires, birdbaths, and clean gutters to prevent mosquito breeding.
Furthermore, using screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of homes and repairing any holes or tears in the screens is recommended. For infants and very young children, avoiding the use of certain repellents like oil of lemon eucalyptus or PMD is advised.
Additional advice includes covering strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting and ensuring larvicide treatments are applied when standing water cannot be removed. It is also recommended to consider avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito-biting hours or wear protective clothing and use repellent from dusk to dawn.
Spraying clothes with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent will give extra protection against mosquito bites. Insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and para-menthane-diol provide longer-lasting protection against mosquito bites.
While specific statements from Louisville's Chief Health Strategist Connie Mendel were not found in the provided search results, local guidance typically aligns with these CDC prevention strategies, focusing on awareness, use of repellents, protective clothing, and reducing mosquito habitats.
Stay informed and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones against the West Nile virus. By following these guidelines, we can work together to keep Louisville safe and healthy.
[1] CDC. (2025). West Nile virus prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/prevention/
[2] Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. (n.d.). West Nile virus. Louisville Metro Government. https://louisvilleky.gov/government/public-health-wellness/west-nile-virus
[3] Kentucky Department for Public Health. (n.d.). West Nile virus. Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/diseases/westnilevirus.htm
[4] World Health Organization. (2022). West Nile virus. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/west-nile-virus
[5] Mayo Clinic. (2021). West Nile virus. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/west-nile-virus/symptoms-causes/syc-20357453
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