Dear Friends,

I am honored to serve as state representative for the 29th House District and am proud to be a strong advocate in Lansing for the residents and families of our community. Please encourage your friends and family to stay connected and subscribe to this e-newsletter. It will keep you up-to-date on legislation and policies coming from the Capitol, as well as my coffee hours and other community events I will host so we can get together face-to-face.

In this issue:

  • West Nile Virus Detected Oakland County

West Nile Virus Detected Oakland County

The Oakland County Health Division  recently issued a press release because a mosquito pool in Pontiac tested positive for West Nile Virus. There are no confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus in Oakland County so far this year. The health division encourages everyone in Oakland County to take precautionary measures to prevent mosquito bites.

West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne virus. Infected mosquitoes get the virus by biting an infected bird. The virus spreads to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Most people infected with the virus have either no symptoms or experience a mild illness such as fever, headache and body aches. However, in some individuals, severe inflammation and swelling of the brain can develop. People over the age of 50 are more likely to develop serious and potentially life-threatening symptoms of West Nile Virus if they do get sick.

Follow these prevention tips:

  • Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent. All EPA-registered insect repellents are evaluated for safety and effectiveness and will contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon, eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol as the active ingredient. Repellents containing a higher percentage of the active ingredient typically provide longer-lasting protection. Always follow the product label instructions.

o   Be careful using repellent on the hands of children as it may irritate the eyes and mouth.

  • Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by removing standing water around your home:

o   Turn over any container that can collect water. Once a week, empty items that hold water such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, pet bowls, flowerpots and trash containers.

o   Clean clogged roof gutters, particularly if leaves tend to plug up the drains.

o   Treat standing water that cannot be eliminated, such as retention ponds or drainage ditches, with a mosquito larvicide. Mosquito larvicide is easy to use, and you can get it at most home improvement stores.

  • Wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and pants.
  • Limit outdoor activity from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
  • Maintain window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of buildings. Do not prop open doors.

For additional information, you can contact the Oakland County Health Division at oakgov.com/health* or follow @publichealthOC* on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. The Nurse on Call is available at (800) 848-5533 or noc@oakgov.com, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.

In Service,

State Representative Brenda Carter

29th House District