(The Center Square) – Southern Nevada health officials are urging people to protect themselves from mosquitoes after nearly 3,100 of them tested positive for West Nile Virus.
The numbers are as recent as June 6th and involve 91 mosquito pools from 16 ZIP codes. Meanwhile, two mosquito pools also tested positive for St. Louis Encephalitis, a rare disease related to West Nile virus.
“Mosquitoes testing positive for St. Louis encephalitis virus were last reported in Clark County in 2019 and the last reported cases in humans in 2016” Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) says in a news release.
Researchers say the St. Louis encephalitis virus is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Most people infected with the virus will reportedly not develop symptoms. However, people that do fall ill may experience fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, and vomiting.
“West Nile virus is spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito,” SNHD continues. “About one in five people infected with West Nile virus will develop symptoms that can include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash.”
Cases of West Nile were minimal in 2020, 2021, and 2023.
SNHD recommends anyone that believed to have West Nile should speak with a doctor or health care provider.
Prevention measures include eliminating standing water around their residence, using insect repellant, and wearing long sleeved shirts and pants. Citizens can also report mosquito activity to the Health District’s surveillance program at (702) 759-1633.
