Dear NEOMED Community:
Our Department of Environmental Health and Safety works closely with the Portage County Health Department (PCHD) and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) in several ways to ensure our campus remains safe. This includes participation in statewide programs set up through ODH for vectorborne disease surveillance, which monitors for human and veterinary cases at random sites.
Today, we were contacted by PCHD regarding a mosquito trap that the ODH placed on the west side of our campus (near The Village at NEOMED). This mosquito trap has tested positive for West Nile virus.
While there are no known West Nile virus human cases in Ohio, we want to make sure students, particularly those who are likely to live and hangout outside of The Village in the evening, take precaution — use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, treat clothing and gear, and take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors.
Most people (8 out of 10) infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms, and about 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash.
Visit Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for more information and of course, see your health care provider if you develop any of the symptoms described above.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
Jesse Zampedro
Assistant Director
Environmental Health and Safety
Campus Operations