CANYON COUNTY, Idaho — This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
The Canyon County Mosquito Abatement District announced Thursday that West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitos near Parma.
The potentially fatal virus was detected in pools of mosquitos that were collected on Wednesday west of Parma, the abatement district said in a news release. It was the first positive detection in the county this season.
Canyon is the second county in the Treasure Valley to register a positive detection, the release said. It was not immediately clear which other county has seen the West Nile this summer.
"The areas where the mosquitoes were collected have been treated for both larval and adult mosquitoes," the release said. "The District has increased control measures in response to the increased public health threat."
The West Nile virus can cause symptoms that include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea and rash, but most people who contract the virus do not feel sick, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 1 in 150 people (less than 1%) who contract the virus may suffer serious illness or death, the CDC said.
The mosquito abatement district listed the following areas that can accumulate standing water that can be a breeding ground for biting mosquitos, noting that anything that can hold standing water for seven days is at risk:
- Flooded fields
- Birdbaths
- Wading and swimming pools not in use
- Clogged gutters
- Old tires
Additionally, the district recommends the following courses of action to reduce the risk of being bitten and infected:
- Wear repellents while outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when in mosquito-infested areas.
- Use mosquito repellents containing DEET, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, Picaridin or 2-undecanone, making sure to follow the directions on the container.
- Make sure all screen doors and windows are in good repair and fit tightly.
- Vaccinate horses for WNv, WEE, and other diseases.
- Use EPA-registered residual insect sprays on horses, making sure to follow the directions on the container.
- Have your livestock watering troughs stocked with mosquitofish for free by submitting a service request to the abatement district.
Anyone with a pool of water too large to treat themselves is asked to notify the district at 208-461-8633.
More information is available online at the district's website (2cmad.org), the CDC website (cdc.gov/west-nile-virus), and the Department of Health and Welfare website.
This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press, read more on IdahoPress.com.