Every year, mosquitoes in various parts of Yuma County are tested for West Nile Virus.
This season, the testing came back positive.
KAWC’s Stephanie Sanchez reports.
The Yuma County Pest Abatement District along with the Yuma County Health Department trapped mosquitoes from all around the county.
Yuma County Pest Abatement District manager Elene Stefanakos said this year the number of mosquitoes testing positive increased.
West Nile Virus is vector borne disease that is transmitted from birds into the mosquito population.
The virus is spread from the bite of an infected mosquito.
Some people experience flu-like symptoms, like a fever, others become fatally ill, but most people develop no symptoms at all.
Health officials said there have been no reported cases of West Nile Virus in humans in Yuma County.
"We just want to make sure that people that are outside to wear protective clothing, they're wearing an EPA approved insect repellant and are avoiding being outside during twilight...during sunrise or sunset when we see this particular species of mosquito extremely active.”
Stefanakos said vector control specialists are spraying continuously to kill biting mosquitoes in locations ranging from northwest Yuma, Gila/Colorado confluence and along Yuma East Wetlands.
Various locations are also being monitored to decrease the chances of West Nile infection.