Testing in Nassau County shows increased mosquito-borne illness activity

Jacksonville, FL — Drain your property of standing water.  The Nassau County Health Department is seeing an increase in West Nile Virus activity in chickens that are used to test for mosquito-borne illness.

There's also been an outbreak of Eastern Equine Encephalitis reported in emus.

According to the Health Department, human infections with EEEV and WNV are asymptomatic or may result in a nonspecific flu-like syndrome with fever and headache.

So far in 2018, there have been four cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis infection in horses in Nassau, and one outbreak of EEEV reported in emus. Ten sentinel chickens have tested positive for EEEV, and 17 have tested positive for WNV.

Nassau County health officials urge you to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to take precautions to help limit your exposure:

-Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.

-Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren't being used.

-Empty and clean birdbaths and pet's water bowls at least once or twice a week.

-Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.

-Maintain swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.

You are also encouraged to cover your skin with repellent and/or clothing.  Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, and IR3535 are effective.