The Ada County Mosquito Abatement District has confirmed the presence of West Nile virus (WNV) in mosquito populations for the first time this year. A pool of mosquitoes trapped near N. Five Mile Road and W. Edna Street in Boise has tested positive for the virus.
The detections have prompted truck-mounted mosquito abatement treatments in the areas surrounding the detection sites in an effort to prevent human cases of WNV. The abatement district will continue to monitor and treat populations in the affected areas, as well as throughout the abatement district boundaries to control mosquito populations and prevent WNV from being transmitted to humans and livestock.
In 2019, the county’s first positive WNV test pool occurred on August 6th. Between May and September last summer, the abatement district identified 25 positive test pools from 23 trap locations, and trapped more than 67,000 mosquitoes county-wide. About 31 percent of the trappings were identified as Culex tarsalis and Culex pipiens, which are mosquito species known to carry WNV.
The public can play an important role in preventing the spread of WNV.
To help prevent the spread of West Nile virus:
- Drain or dump standing water weekly. For example, dump standing water from flowerpots, planter bases, bird baths, toys, cans, rain gutters, pet dishes, buckets, and old tires.
- Ensure that screen doors and windows are tight-fitting and good condition.
- Avoid overwatering your lawn and landscape.
- Limit outdoor activities during dusk and dawn to prevent mosquito bites. Those are the times when the mosquitoes that transmit WNV are most active.
- Dress in long-sleeve shirts and long pants, preferably in light colors when recreating outdoors during dawn and dusk.
- Apply insect repellent following label instructions.
To see where WNV has been found in Ada County in 2019-20, visit:
https://adacounty.id.gov/Mosquito-Abatement, and click on the Mosquito Tracker.
For additional information on WNV and Ada County mosquito control efforts, visit the Ada County Mosquito Abatement District website. To report a mosquito issue, call 208-577-4646, or e-mail the district at: [email protected].