Marion County has first West Nile death

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Marion County Health officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid the West Nile Virus.

An Indianapolis man died Saturday after contracting the West Nile Virus from a mosquito bite. Health officials won't release the man's name, but say he was 44 years old. His death comes just two weeks after a person died in Vanderburgh County after contracting the virus.

"You have to know that mosquitoes love to feed at dusk so try to avoid being out at that time," said Marion County Health director Dr. Virginia Cain.

Since 2002, Marion County has experienced five West Nile virus deaths. She said the current death should be an alert for Hoosiers.

"Anything you can do to eliminate water sources," Dr. Cain said.

The Indiana Department of Health is reporting 11 cases of West Nile Across the state. So far this year, nearly 12-hundred people nationwide have been diagnosed with the virus. In Marion County, West Nile has been identified in Mosquitoes in all nine townships.

"The percentage of them that have tested positive for West Nile is increased," said Ryan Mercado with Marion County Mosquito Control.

Dr. Cain said the recent rain it doesn't help the situation. She said standing water is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes to multiply.

"It's able to transmit the virus much more effectively from the mosquitoes to humans," she said.

Darla Keller of Forth Wayne knows the risk. She was bitten by a mosquito carrying West Nile while working in a garden. Her doctor told her if she waited one more day it would have been too late.

"I started forming a rash and it just went from feet all the way to my body; my arms, up to here, my face," Keller said.

Health officials say if you get those symptoms, see your doctor.

Marion County Health Officials said they received more than 100 calls a day last week from people reporting mosquitoes.

Anyone wanting to report a mosquito problem can call Mosquito Control at 331-7440.