ORONO, Maine — The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday that mosquitos in Orono tested positive for carrying Jamestown Canyon Virus.
The department said no cases have been reported in humans in Maine this year, and it's also the first positive test statewide in mosquitoes for 2024, the Maine CDC said in a news release.
No cases of humans contracting JCV in Maine were confirmed in 2023, but three pools tested positive statewide, according to the Maine CDC. The first case of JCV in Maine was confirmed in 2017, and the first death from the illness in the state was in 2018.
Mosquitoes are regularly tested statewide in Maine at various intervals during warmer months to identify whether they are carrying any illnesses that could spread to animals or humans.
JCV is one of three mosquito-borne illnesses known to spread in Maine. The other two are Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus, or EEE, and West Nile Virus. All three illnesses are considered rare in Maine, according to the state CDC, but they can have severe and sometimes fatal side effects.
According to the Maine CDC, many people infected with the viruses won't show any symptoms, but others may experience mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and weakness. Severe symptoms include vomiting, neck stiffness, loss of coordination, speech difficulties, confusion, seizures, brain swelling, or meningitis, the release stated.
If left untreated, some infections can lead to death. If you experience any of the above symptoms, the Maine CDC is instructing you to call your medical provider immediately.
The Maine CDC urges people to take protective measures against mosquito bites:
- Wear long sleeves and long pants
- Use an EPA-approved repellent on skin and clothes
- Take extra precautions at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active
- Use screens on windows and doors
- Regularly drain artificial sources of standing water where mosquitoes lay eggs (e.g., bird baths, dog bowls, buckets, and children's toys)
- Take steps to prevent mosquito bites when traveling
To help prevent mosquito-borne diseases in pets, the Maine CDC recommends speaking to your veterinarian. Maine CDC also encourages horse owners to vaccinate against EEE and West Nile Virus.
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