The Washoe County Health District confirmed this week that a mosquito sample from South Meadows in Reno tested positive for West Nile Virus. Reno Public Radio’s Anh Gray explains.
It’s the first positive test so far this year. Since the West Nile Virus has now been confirmed, local health officials plan to step-up mosquito surveillance and also to conduct controlled, early-morning fogging in the larger area. Fogging in the South Meadows area already took place.
A spokesperson for the health district says this is the typical time of year that they begin seeing West Nile Virus in the region. The hot and humid weather this summer has also made the area a prime breeding ground for mosquitos.
There was one human case of West Nile Virus reported in Washoe County last year, but health officials said that person likely contracted the disease while traveling outside the area.
