A 32-year-old Pinellas County man has West Nile Virus.

Florida's Department of Health in Pinellas County announced the positive confirmation of the disease Friday.

As of Aug. 28, there have been 23 positive tests for West Nile Virus in sentinel chickens from Pinellas County Mosquito Control coops. As a result, the risk of transmission to humans in the county increased.

In 2015, positive samples from five humans, eight mosquito pools and 76 sentinel chickens have been received from 14 counties in Florida.

Pinellas County Mosquito Control and DOH-Pinellas continue surveillance and prevention efforts and encourage everyone to take basic precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes that may cause West Nile Virus disease.

To protect yourself from mosquitoes, you should remember to "Drain and Cover":

DRAIN standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying.

  • Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.
  • Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren't being used.
  • Empty and clean birdbaths and pet's water bowls at least once or twice a week.
  • Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don't accumulate water.
  • Maintain swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated.
  • Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.

COVER skin with clothing or repellent.

  • Clothing - Wear comfortable shoes, socks and long pants and long-sleeves. This type of protection may be necessary for people who must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.
  • Repellent - Apply mosquito repellent to exposed skin and clothing.
  • Always use repellents according to the label. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered repellents with 10-30 percent DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-mentane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection.
  • Permethrin repellent can also be applied to clothing (but not skin).
  • Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than two months old.

For more information on what repellent is right for you, consider using the Environmental Protection Agency's search tool to help you choose skin-applied repellent
products: http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect/#searchform.

DOH continues to conduct statewide surveillance for mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus infections, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis, Malaria and Dengue. Residents of Florida are encouraged to report dead birds via the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's website at www.myfwc.com/bird/.

For more information, visit the department's website at www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-andconditions/mosquito-borne-diseases/index.html or DOH-Pinellas' site, www.PinellasHealth.com