A representative from the Northeast Tennessee Regional Health Department in Johnson City confirmed to the Elizabethton Star Monday morning that a West Nile virus death recently occurred in Tennessee Department of Health’s Northeast Tennessee region. The region is made up of Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.

TDH’s Northeast Tennessee Office can only confirm that the death is from the region, adding they cannot share details in regards to which county the person lived in. The measure is out of respect for the family and it would be up to the victim’s loved ones to come forward.

Officials from the department are urging Tennesseans to take preventative steps to avoid mosquito-carried diseases. According to TDH, West Nile virus is the most common virus circulating in Tennessee and the department has seen an increase in mosquito testing in addition to human cases.

“We all know mosquitoes aren’t just a nuisance. Last year 30 Tennesseans were infected with West Nile virus and sadly, we saw two recent deaths in Shelby County,” TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, said in a press release issued to the Elizabethton Star. “Most but not all healthy people can fight off West Nile virus infection, but some get seriously ill with major consequences like severe pain, long-term or permanent nerve or brain damage and even death. This is a critical time of year and it’s up to all of us to do what we can to keep ourselves and others safe from mosquito bites.”In most years, the majority of human West Nile cases in Tennessee occur in August and September. All Tennesseans are advised to use mosquito protection for the remainder of the summer and early fall.

Health experts state there are no vaccines to prevent West Nile, so the best course of action is to use precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

TDH encourages everyone to follow these precautions:

• Use insect repellants such as DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 on your skin, following all label recommendations for use. Pay particular attention to recommendations for use on children, and never apply any of these products around the mouth or eyes at any age. Consult your health care provider if you have questions.

• Reduce mosquito populations around your home. Mosquitoes can breed in any place that holds water, including clogged drains or gutters, watering cans and empty bottles.

• Use products containing permethrin, a highly effective insecticide, for clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear. Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills ticks, mosquitoes and other pests and retains this effect after repeated laundering. Some commercial products are available pretreated with permethrin. As a caution, however, it is not to be used directly on skin.

• Wear ’long, loose and light’ clothing to help prevent bites through fabric. It’s best to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Tuck your pants into your socks and your shirt into your pants. Light-colored clothes are less attractive to many insects and may allow you to spot them more easily.