Greater Cincinnati health officials said Thursday that evidence of the West Nile virus could appear here within the next year now that a blue jay in northeast Ohio was confirmed to be infected with the mosquito-borne disease.

        Still, health officials urged residents to heighten precautions immediately. That means protection from mosquitos by restricting time outdoors in the evening, wearing long sleeves and pants when outside at night, and getting rid of tires, buckets, recycling containers, birdbaths and other sources of stagnant water. Still waters are ideal mosquito breeding grounds.

        “Mosquitoes usually don't like moving water,” said Dr. Judith Daniels, medical director for the Cincinnati Health Department.

        The infected blue jay was found in Concord Township in Lake County, about 25 miles northeast of Cleveland, Ohio Health Department officials said Wednesday. No human cases have been reported in Ohio.

        The invasion into Ohio was expected after the virus was reported last year near Erie, Pa., and adjacent parts of western New York.

        Dr. Daniels said she has been impressed by the virus' ability to spread quickly.

        “Right now, it's pretty much considered inevitable that it's just going to spread around the country,” she said.

        Ohio has been trying to keep the virus out of the state for several months. More than 12,000 mosquitoes and 100 blue jays and crows, which are especially susceptible to the virus, have been tested this year, said Jay Carey, spokesman for the Ohio Health Department.

        That testing will intensify throughout the state.

        In May, 12 Greater Cincinnati agencies formed the South West Area Regional Mosquito Task Force — or SWARM — to address the West Nile virus threat.

        Tim Ingram, Hamilton County health commissioner, and Chris Eddy, environmental health director for the Hamilton County General Health District, urge area residents to report to their local health agency whenever they find a crow or blue jay that has just died so that they can test for the virus.

        But Mr. Carey reminded Greater Cincinnatians not to panic.

        “Where the West Nile virus (has been) reported, less than 1 percent of the mosquitos are infected, and less than 1 percent of the people who are bitten by an infected mosquito will become severely ill. It's an emerging pathogen in Ohio. You need to be aware of it and take precautions, but there's no need to panic.”

        The West Nile virus was first isolated in 1937 in Uganda's West Nile district. It can cause deadly encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, in older people and those with weak immune systems.

        Since 1999, the virus has killed nine people in New York and New Jersey. The disease has proved fatal in about 10 percent of infected humans and fatal in about 30 to 40 percent of infected horses.

Teen faces new charge of attempted murder
Ky. 17 completion should trigger land boom
Hunting buddies face charges
CAN announces members of economic inclusion team
Fuller plan would revive 'voices of city's past'
Goal: policing without bias
Petitions reviewed for errors
Plan to move Job Corps opposed
Whitehead, once homeless, takes helm of national agency
Heart of town renews its life
Heat adds stress for fair critters
Tristate A.M. Report
Tristate GOP reps support compromise
Unclaimed-funds books go on tour
Virus is coming, health officials say
Fairfax meeting called to end rumors
Hearings set on tax boost
Lebanon debates phone costs
Board promises citizen input
Judge annuls minister's marriage to wealthy 77-year-old widow
David Bunning put up for federal judgeship
Day care centers get report cards
Kentucky News Briefs
Man drowns fishing Lake Cumberland
Past president of Thomas More College killed in crash
Smokers, chewers! Give up tobacco, win cash prizes
Two Boone deputies suspended