Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Mosquitoes in valley test positive for West Nile Virus

Mosquito Hunter

Steve Marcus

A mosquito is shown in a test tube at the Southern Nevada Health District before being sent to Reno for testing Thursday June 10, 2010.

Mosquitoes in the Las Vegas Valley have tested positive for West Nile Virus, the Southern Nevada Health District announced today.

Officials set mosquito traps in the ZIP codes of 89103, 89107, 89129, 89138 and 89149, and insects from all the traps tested positive for the virus, Health District spokeswoman Stephanie Bethel said.

But that doesn’t mean the potential for contracting the disease from a mosquito bite is limited to those areas, Bethel said.

West Nile Virus usually produces no to mild symptoms, such as fever and headache, but in some cases it can be fatal.

No human cases have been reported in the valley this year.

Last year, nine cases of West Nile were reported in Clark County. Two victims died, Bethel said.

The virus appears about the same time each year.

Mosquitos are most active at dawn and dusk, so people should wear long sleeves, pants and insect repellent when they go outside, Bethel said.

Eliminating sources of standing water can help prevent mosquitoes.

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