Some folks might wish to put their summer season trip plans to the Las Vegas space on maintain, after well being officers reported that Southern Nevada is experiencing the very best stage of mosquito exercise in identified historical past, with greater than 3,000 mosquitoes testing constructive for West Nile virus.
Southern Nevada Well being District stated in a press release Monday that as of June 6, 91 swimming pools, comprising 3,081 mosquitoes from 16 ZIP codes, have examined constructive for the virus. Two swimming pools, comprising 46 mosquitoes from two ZIP codes, have additionally examined constructive for the virus that causes St. Louis encephalitis.
The well being district’s Mosquito Surveillance Program has acquired an elevated variety of complaints from residents about mosquito exercise, in accordance with the press launch. Well being officers attributed the rise in experiences partly to the elevated presence of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes within the space—these mosquitoes are aggressive biters in the course of the day and have a tendency to chunk folks quite than birds. Aedes aegypti have examined constructive for West Nile virus for the primary time in Clark County, the press launch stated.
For the previous 4 years, Southern Nevada has had minimal West Nile virus exercise, well being officers stated. Solely two human circumstances of the virus had been reported in 2023. In 2019, officers reported 43 confirmed human circumstances.
Learn Extra: Mosquito-Borne West Nile Virus Soared in 2018, According to CDC Data
People can grow to be contaminated with West Nile virus if they’re bitten by a mosquito that’s contaminated with the virus. About one in 5 people who find themselves contaminated with West Nile virus will develop signs, akin to fever, headache, physique aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash, in accordance with the press launch. In some circumstances—about one in 150 folks—those that are contaminated with West Nile virus can develop a extra critical, and even deadly, sickness.
The final time mosquitoes in Clark County examined constructive for St. Louis encephalitis virus was in 2019, and there has not been a human case since 2016, in accordance with the press launch. Like West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus is unfold to people by the chunk of an contaminated mosquito, and though most people who find themselves contaminated won’t develop signs, some may develop fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Some folks may develop a neuroinvasive type of the illness that causes both encephalitis, which is irritation of the mind, or meningitis, which is irritation of the membranes surrounding the mind and spinal twine, in accordance with the press launch.
Well being officers inspired the general public to take preventive steps to guard themselves from mosquito-borne diseases, together with eliminating standing water, which could be a breeding supply for mosquitoes, in addition to utilizing insect repellent to forestall mosquito bites.
