West Nile Virus detected in Elkhart County

-
2:02
Storm threat increasing for Michiana Friday and Saturday
-
5:14
’Pollinator Promenade’ celebrates local pollinators
-
1:48
Nothing notable on Thursday, but showers and storms to end the...
-
4:01
Benton Harbor bringing mobile nuisance party ordinance back to...
-
0:52
Board votes 5-2 to keep Clay High School Building
-
4:34
New Benton Harbor Area Schools Superintendent sits down with...
-
3:20
Nationwide outcry for reopening of the Jayco Animal Cruelty Case
-
1:43
A new apartment complex coming to the heart of downtown Saint...
-
4:28
Bodycam footage shows search for man who stole police car
-
1:08
Evening storms possible, much less muggy Thursday
-
0:58
Elkhart expands city boundaries following city council’s approval...
-
2:42
Watermelon in hot car experiment
ELKHART, Ind - The West Nile Virus has been detected in Elkhart County.
Mary Wade-Taxter of the Indiana State Department of Health confirmed with those findings with ABC57.
The West Nile virus is spread by infected mosquitoes and can cause a rash, fever and body aches.
In severe cases with at risk populations the symptoms can be worse.
At risk populations include the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses.
“Those people are at a higher risk of developing severe symptoms like a coma, tremors, muscle weakness, and paralysis” Indiana State Health Department Epidemiologist Taryn Stevens said.
West Nile is found every year in the Michiana are and it’s “present in the birds in the area” Mary Wade-Taxter said.
Taryn Stevens cautioned anyone who suspects they’ve been infected with the virus to seek medical attention immediately.