Officials: Mosquito with West Nile virus found Ottawa County
Public health officials are urging Ottawa County residents to take precautions against mosquito bites after West Nile virus was detected in a local mosquito sample.
HOLLAND — Public health officials are urging Ottawa County residents to take precautions against mosquito bites after West Nile virus was detected in a local mosquito sample.
The Ottawa County Department of Public Health confirmed the positive sample was found in the south-central region of the county during routine summer monitoring. While the virus is active in the local mosquito population, officials noted that no human cases have been reported in Ottawa County so far this year.
The discovery follows a similar recent detection in neighboring Kent County, signaling a regional presence of the virus as summer intensifies.
According to health officials, most individuals infected with West Nile virus do not develop symptoms. However, those who do become ill can experience fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash. While serious illness is rare, the risk increases significantly for older adults and individuals with underlying health conditions. There is currently no vaccine or specific medical treatment for the virus.
Please consider becoming a monthly donor!
To mitigate the risk of infection, the OCDPH recommends the following preventative measures:
- Apply repellent: Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent when outdoors.
- Wear protective clothing: Cover exposed skin with long sleeves and pants, particularly during dawn and dusk when mosquito activity peaks.
- Treat gear: Apply appropriate insect repellent to clothing and outdoor equipment.
- Eliminate standing water: Routinely empty potential breeding sites around the home, including bird baths, pet bowls, wading pools, and any containers that collect rainwater.
Residents seeking additional information can visit the county's outdoor health portal at miottawa.org/outdoorhealth or access national guidelines via cdc.gov/west-nile-virus. Health concerns can be reported directly to the county at miottawa.org/concern.
— Submitted by the Ottawa County Department of Public Health. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
