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SYRACUSE — West Nile virus has been located in mosquitoes in Davis County, in a Syracuse mosquito pool.
The Davis County, Utah Mosquito Elimination District announced Monday that a cluster of western encephalitis mosquitoes tested positive for the virus on July 11, which is often the first indication of a circulating virus in the community.
The district advised Utahns in the area to use insect repellant following label directions, empty any containers containing water on their patios, avoid prolonged outdoor activity between dusk and dawn, and wear long-sleeved clothing. long, baggy and light colored.
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services has yet to report any human cases of West Nile virus this year.
He Davis County Mosquito Abatement District is a public agency responsible for mosquito control and provides information and resources on disease transmission. Set surveillance traps weekly to monitor conditions and identify which species are in the area.
Its website said officials are testing two species of mosquitoes that can transmit West Nile virus, which is primarily a disease spread between birds and mosquitoes, but can also spread to humans and horses. Davis County has large areas that are good places for mosquito-bird interactions, so West Nile virus is more likely to occur.
The organization uses an intensified integrated mosquito management approach to reduce the risk of the virus being transmitted to the public.
“We are fortunate to be able to test in-house for (West Nile virus). By testing in-house, we get the benefit of quick and direct notification of positive mosquitoes, typically within 24 hours of mosquito capture. With With results available so quickly, we can more efficiently activate our response to increased risk,” the district’s website says.
Officials report any positive tests to the Utah Department of Health, which reports the tests to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last year, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services reported five confirmed human infections and seven confirmed horse infections and the disease was detected in humans, animals or mosquitoes in eight different counties.
Symptoms of the severe form of West Nile virus include high fever, severe headache and stiff neck, disorientation, and confusion. People with symptoms are encouraged to contact a health care provider immediately, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Most people with the virus do not develop symptoms, but about 1 in 150 people with the virus develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system, which has a 10% chance of causing death.
Tips to Reduce Exposure to Mosquitoes
- Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors and use an insect repellent with 20%-30% DEET, which is safe to use during pregnancy. Repellents are not recommended for children under 2 months of age.
- The hours from dusk to dawn are the peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning.
- Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Remove any puddles of water or standing water, including in pet dishes, flower pots, wading pools and swimming pools, buckets, tarps, and tires.
- Report standing bodies of water to your local Mosquito Reduction District. Visit http://www.umaa.org/ for a list of districts.
- Keep doors, windows and screens in good condition and make sure they fit well.
- Check with a travel immunization clinic before traveling to areas that may have mosquito-borne diseases, such as Zika or dengue, and take the necessary precautions.
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