10/06/2026
Jackson County Health Department reports
WEST NILE VIRUS ACTIVITY IN JACKSON COUNTY
The Jackson County Health Department has been notified by State health officials that a positive pool of mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus has been found in Jackson County.
The Jackson County Health Department recommends that residents take the following protective steps:
Avoid being outdoors during prime mosquito biting times, dusk to dawn, when possible;
Wear EPA-registered insect repellents. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone. Not all repellents are effective against both mosquitoes and ticks. The EPA’s helpful search tool can help you find the product that is best for you. Always follow product instructions:
Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.
Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children younger than 3 years old.
Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of the home; and
When possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outside.
The Jackson County Health Department urges residents to take steps to rid their properties of potential mosquito breeding grounds by:
Discard old tires, tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or other containers that can hold water;
Repair failed septic systems;
Drill holes in the bottom of recycling or trash containers left outdoors;
Keep grass cut short and shrubbery trimmed;
Clean clogged roof gutters, particularly if leaves tend to plug up the drains;
Frequently replace the water in pet/livestock bowls;
Flush ornamental fountains and birdbaths periodically; and
Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with predatory fish.
For more information, visit the Jackson County Health Department Web site at: www.jacksoncountyhealth.org or www.statehealth.IN.gov
West Nile virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes that have first bitten an infected bird. A person bitten by an infected mosquito may show symptoms three to 15 days after the bite.
West Nile Virus usually causes a mild form of illness, which can include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands, or a rash. However, a small number of individuals can develop a more severe form of the disease with encephalitis or meningitis and other neurological syndromes, including flaccid muscle paralysis. Health officials say that although individuals over age 50 are at greatest risk for serious illness and even death from West Nile virus, people of all ages have been infected with the virus and have had severe disease.
Walking into our building, you will find yourself in the lobby of the Environmental and Vital Records Department. To get the the Nursing Division, continue walking straight back to second lobby. Â
