SIDNEY — The Sidney-Shelby County Health Department has been sent an alert by the Ohio Department of Health concering West Nile virus.

The disease, which is transported by mosquitos, has been diagnosed in Hamilton and Cuyahoga counties in Ohio.

“Mosquito infections and the risk of human cases will increase thru the end of summer, so it is important to continue and even step up messages reminding everyone to avoid mosquito bites and eliminate breeding sites,” the ODH alert read.

In addition, “the Chikunguna outbreak in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America has continued since December 2013 with well over a million suspected cases in 44 or more countries. Ohioans traveling to areas where local transmission is occurring should be aware of this ongoing situation and make every effort to avoid mosquito bites. Additional information can be found from the CDC at www.cdc.gov/chikungunya,” ODH said.