West Nile spreads across Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Even with Indiana's record-setting drought, state health officials are reporting a widespread outbreak of mosquitoes testing positive for the West Nile virus.  

Already, there are nearly 90 confirmed batches of mosquitoes carrying the disease in 31 counties. 

Hot, dry weather is the perfect ingredient for breeding West Nile. So far 89 batches of mosquitoes have tested positive across the state for West Nile. This time last year there was not a single case of the virus.

Shawn Moore, a biologist with Marion County Mosquito Control, said drought conditions act as an incubator for the virus, which is transmitted by what are called container-born mosquitoes. He said these blood suckers breed in small, stagnant bodies of water, usually found in discarded tires, trash cans and bird baths.  

“There is just more of it in the environment - there is more virus among the birds because the birds are the main reservoir for West Nile virus, so there is just more birds carrying the virus, which in turn leaves a greater chance for a mosquito to bite a bird picking it up, then biting a human,” said Moore.

• ONLINE EXTRA | See current cases of West Nile on the state's website

Moore’s department has two confirmed cases of birds that tested positive for West Nile. He's still waiting on results on a third. No humans have tested positive in Indiana yet. But if hot, dry conditions continue, he said he expects to see that number change. 

“What we are looking for is that first hard freeze. That is what will really curtail the mosquito population,” Moore said. 

About 1 in 150 people infected with West Nile virus get seriously ill, health statistics show. The Centers for Disease Control report 80 percent of people who are infected don't show any symptoms.

If you live in Marion County and have any standing water near your home that can't be drained, you're asked to call Mosquito Control at 317-221-7440.