State Reports This Year’s First Detected West Nile Virus Activity

If it's not one thing, it's another.

Well, it's looking like the West Nile Virus is back as the first detected case was found in a captive hawk from Lapeer County. This was reported earlier on Friday from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

According to ABC12, the state reported that West Nile virus sickened 12 Michiganders and 20 animals including birds in 2019.

Dr Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy director for health:

“It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to cause severe illness. We urge Michiganders to take precautions such as using an EPA-registered insect repellent when outdoors.”

I was outside the other night doing some yard work and forgot to put bug spray on and those nasty suckers ate the hell out of me. I couldn't believe how bad they were. The following day I called someone right away to come out and spray my yard. I love being outside and don't want to deal with them all summer long.

Mosquitoes carry not only West Nile Virus but Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) too. Apparently last year was the worst year ever recorded for EEE in Michigan. Six people actually died from it.

There are a few things you can do to try and prevent mosquito bites.

• Apply insect spray when going outside.
• Treat your yard.
• Hang a bug zapper in your yard.
• Burn Citronella
• Never leave your house after the sun goes down (that's how my girlfriend avoids mosquitos).

It's nearly impossible to avoid mosquitos, the best you can do is take a few precautions.