UTAH COUNTY, Utah — The Utah County Health Department has confirmed that West Nile Virus was found in a sample of mosquitoes tested near Provo and Springville, though no human cases have been reported yet.
In Utah, there were 11 cases of West Nile Virus in 2018, 21 cases in 2019, 2 cases in 2020, 28 cases in 2021 and 5 cases last year in 2022.
Public health officials are warning the public to avoid exposure and are spraying areas to contain the virus.
“We still have a lot of water that we didn’t have last year," said Utah State University Horticulture Extension Associate Professor Taun Beddes. "Even though it may be a mile away from somebody’s home, ponds even – there's still more standing water than we’ve had in the past.”
The department's Mosquito Abatement District sets traps each week throughout the county to monitor the mosquito population, with those with the potential to carry the virus tested to see if it's present.
Over 1,200 pools of mosquitoes were tested and this is the first positive pool detected.
“With the extreme high-water we have had this Spring, this has been a massive mosquito year, as we were expecting, the second highest in the last 15 years,” says Mosquito Abatement District Director, Dan Miller.
MAD advises people to follow mosquito prevention "Ds:"
- DRAIN standing water
- DAWN and DUSK are times to avoid being outside
- DRESS appropriately by wearing long sleeves and pants when outside
- DEFEND yourself by using insect repellent with DEET
- DOOR and window screens should be in good working condition
While it's estimated that less than one percent of people infected with West Nile Virus will experience severe infections, it can be debilitating and sometimes fatal. Severe infections may include high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, and convulsions.
“Watch your yard, do you have a wheelbarrow with standing water? Do you have bird fountains that you're not changing the water at least every 4-5 days?" Said Beddes. "Behind the shed where we might be storing old tires, those need to be checked too.”
