Trapped mosquitoes tests negative for West Nile in Pahrump, Beatty

There’s good news regarding the mosquito-borne West Nile virus in Nevada.

Officials at the Southern Nevada Health District said the latest captures of mosquitos in Nye County have come back negative for the disease, the agency noted last week.

In a news release, officials said that in July, a total of 12 traps were set in Pahrump, while 14 of the traps were set in Beatty.

“Eighty mosquitoes were trapped in Pahrump in July, down from 245 in June,” the release noted. “Approximately 1,500 mosquitoes were captured in Beatty, down nearly 1,000 from June. The announcement follows the trapping of six mosquitoes in June that tested positive for West Nile virus in Pahrump. A pool of 15 mosquitoes trapped in Beatty in May, tested positive for the disease.”

The release also stated that both issues were quickly remediated, and no transmission to humans has been reported.

Additionally, the Nye County Department of Emergency Management is encouraging residents to eliminate all standing water sources that can become breeding spots for mosquitoes, as even in the desert, mosquitoes can be present.

Through a cooperative relationship, Nye County has benefited from a “vector surveillance” program that traps and identifies mosquitoes for possible health concerns, the release stated.

The Southern Nevada Health District’s Vector Control Division has performed the trappings in Pahrump and Beatty since late April.

West Nile data

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), West Nile is a virus most commonly spread to people by mosquito bites.

In North America, cases of the virus commonly occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall.

“West Nile virus cases have been reported in all of the continental United States,” the agency noted via its website. “There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat West Nile virus. Fortunately, most people infected with the virus do not have symptoms. About one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms.”

The agency went on to note that about one out of 150 infected people develop a serious, and sometimes fatal, illness.

The risk of developing the disease can be reduced by using insect repellant and wearing protective clothing to prevent mosquito bites.

For more information on the West Nile virus, log on to: https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com, on Twitter: @pvtimes