September 13, 2023 Update: Probing For The Latest Biting Update? The Southwest Mosquito Abatement & Control District says they have found 10 positive West Nile Virus (WNV) mosquito pools from three different locations in the St. George and Washington areas. They also had 1 positive Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE) pool.
There have been no human cases in Washington County so far. This is the part of the season when people should be the most cautious about protecting themselves from mosquitoes. Keep using bug spray if you don’t want to get bitten at night when you are out and about. See the original article below for more details.
Original article: August 11, 2023:
At yesterday’s Southwest Mosquito Abatement & Control District board meeting we learned that West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in Washington County. This is the first time WNV has been found in our county in four years, and it arrived earlier than usual (typically late August through September/October).
This is nothing to be alarmed about. It’s just a reminder to take some precautions, especially from dusk to dawn (cover up, use repellent with DEET). However, the safest decision is to apply repellent whenever you are outdoors.
(Download a PDF version of this article to share with family, friends, and neighbors.)
The District is continually testing and treating sites where mosquitoes are found. You can contact the District to get a service call if you have mosquitoes at www.swmosquito.org/service-request or call 435-627-0076.
Here are things you can do to reduce mosquitoes around your house:
Get rid of all standing water. Turn over or remove containers in your yard where water collects, such as potted plant trays, buckets, toys, etc. Clean out birdbaths and wading pools at least once a week. Remove standing water on tarps or flat roofs. Clean clogged rain gutters and downspouts. Repair leaky faucets and sprinklers.
Also, repair door and window screens if torn. Keep weeds and tall grass cut short; adult mosquitoes look for these shady places to rest during the hot daylight hours.
Note: Electric “bug zappers” do not help since they usually attract more mosquitoes than they kill.
The majority of people infected with WNV never develop symptoms. A small percentage of infected individuals will display symptoms (i.e., fever, headache, and body aches).
A more serious form of the disease, West Nile neuroinvasive illness, may also occur when the virus infects the central nervous system. People with this form of the disease experience high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and mental confusion. Hospitalization is often required, and death is possible.
For more information: Southwest Mosquito Abatement & Control District and Utah Department of Health & Human Services