ORONO, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- The mosquito-borne virus known as West Nile Virus has been reported in several places across the country, and is now knocking on Maine's front door.
The Maine Center for Disease Control issued an advisory two weeks ago to health care professionals across the state. Maine has not been affected by West Nile before, but does have a history with another mosquito virus known as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Both viruses cause flu-like symptoms in humans, and can sometimes prove fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 43 states have reported West Nile Virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes this year. A total of 693 cases have been reported in people, including 26 deaths.
New Hampshire health officials last week reported 18 pools of mosquitoes in the Manchester area tested positive for West Nile. Though no humans have caught the virus in neighboring states, University of Maine Pest Management Specialist Jim Dill says that it's closeness is what caused the advisory. "It seems to be pretty much nationwide," says Dill. "The last I knew there was EEE(Eastern Equine Encephalitis) in Massachusetts and West Nile Virus in New Hampshire. So both of them are knocking on the door of our state."
To prevent yourself from getting mosquito bites that could potentially cause West Nile Virus, Dill says to eliminate any pools of standing water outside where mosquitoes like to breed, always use bug repellent, and try to avoid going outside with short sleeves at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active.