West Nile Virus Found In Utah Mosquitos

West Nile virus has once again been found in Utah's mosquitos. According to the Utah Health Department, 114 positive mosquito pools for West Nile virus have been reported so far this year.

So what is a mosquito pool? This term just refers to a group of mosquitos caught and tested from a single trap.

Hannah Rettler, Utah Department of Heath Vectorborne/Zoonotic Epidemiologist, stated:

"West Nile virus is a yearly presence in Utah and it isn’t going away. Even though the number of human cases has decreased in recent years, it is important to understand that West Nile virus has established itself in mosquito populations in the state. Since 2009, Utah records an average of 12 human cases of West Nile virus each year, ranging between two and 21 cases. In 2019, there were 21 human cases, and in 2020 there were two. Some of those cases can be quite severe or even result in death."

Here are some steps you can take to prevent West Nile:

• wear long sleeves and long pants
• use 20% - 30% DEET insect repellent
• stay indoors from duck to dawn, which are peak hours for biting times
• remove puddles of water or standing water, including pet dishes, flower pots, buckets, and tires
• make sure all doors, windows, and screen coverings fit correctly to prevent mosquitos from entering your home