June is a critical month for tracking our risk of West Nile Virus.
"This is when the virus infection rate starts to increase in the mosquito population," said Dr. Ned Walker, MSU Professor of Entomology. "The driver of all of this is temperature primarily ... the more heat, the more mosquito activity, resulting in more virus transmission."
And, his research shows this June has been a scorcher.
"I see one, two, three, four, five, six 90-degree days that we've had in June. And, that's well above the average which is about mid-70s," Dr. Walker explained.
That means more virus transmission among the culpex pipiens mosquito, putting Mid-Michigan at a high risk for an outbreak of human cases.
"We should have a similar West Nile Virus epidemic year this year as we had in 2012, on the basis of this early forecast," he added.
Possibly, more than 230 cases across the state.
"They bite very late at night, they're not the kind that come out right at dusk, when you're charging up the barbecue. They're the kind that actually bother you when you're in bed and sleeping and there's a mosquito buzzing in your ear," Dr. Walker said.
So, if you sleep with your windows open, make sure your screens are secure. And, if you'll be out late, use repellent.
"Their peak biting time is midnight and later," Dr. Walker added.
But, not every bite will result in contraction of the virus.
"About 1 in 5 of us might get sick. And, even for that number of people, many of them may not have very severe symptoms. It may be a fever, a rash, maybe headache, feel like the flu but it's in the middle of summer," Dr. Eden Wells with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, explained.
Symptoms might not develop for two weeks. But, if they do, check with your doctor.
The State Health Department told us prevention is key because there's no treatment or vaccine for the virus.
Only about one in 150 people will develop life-threatening symptoms, like paralysis or meningitis.
Dr. Wells said those people typically have underlying medical conditions.
Last year, two people died out of the 18 cases in Michigan.
