west nile virus

So far in 2019, the weather has particularly warm and damp, which has led to a serious increase in the mosquito and tick population.  Therefore, the risk for diseases these insects carry has increased, as well.  In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair talks to Washtenaw County Health Department environmental health director Kristen Schweighoefer about a new initiative to fight these illnesses.

Mosquito Season has arrived, and, in some areas, it is hitting with a vengeance.  Unfortunately, sometimes there is more to a mosquito bite than just minor swelling and itching.  Mosquito-borne illnesses are on the increase in Michigan.  On this week’s "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair will talk with Washtenaw County Public Health Epidemiologist Laura Bauman about the West Nile, Zika, and other viruses from which you should take precautions.

The Washtenaw County Health Department has reported the first West Nile Virus case in our area.

Summer brings hordes of mosquitos and several diseases along with them, including the Zika virus.  In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair talks to Emily Toth Martin, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, about ways to protect ourselves from Zika, West Nile virus, and more. 

The Washtenaw County Health Department has confirmed that a second local person has been infected with the Zika virus after traveling to an area where the condition is active. 

Wet weather in Michigan this year has meant more flooding and standing water. Now, we are at the height of mosquito season which brings the threat of West Nile Virus. As bad as the illness is, some of the methods of prevention are just as dangerous. Learn more in this week's 'Issues of the Environment.'