West Nile Virus Detected In Ada County
Just because we’re still fighting off this pandemic doesn’t mean we’re immune to the other nasty little issues that normally come our way and one of those issues is the West Nile Virus which officially, now has been detected right here in Idaho’s very own Ada County.
The Ada County Mosquito Abatement District has confirmed the West Nile virus in mosquito populations for the first time in 2021. Samples of collected mosquitoes tested positive for the virus collected near the following intersections in Kuna:
• West Ten Mile Creek Road and South Cole Road.
• East Deer Flat Road and South Cloverdale Road.
• East Corriente Lane and South Kuna-Meridian Road.
The detections prompted truck-mounted mosquito abatement treatments in the areas surrounding the detection sites to prevent human cases of West Nile Virus. The abatement district will continue to monitor and treat populations throughout the abatement district boundaries to control mosquito populations and prevent WNV from being transmitted to humans and livestock.
In 2020, the county’s first positive WNV test pool occurred on August 17th . Between April and September last summer, the abatement district identified 11 positive test pools from 9 trap locations.
The public plays an important role in preventing the spread of WNV. To help prevent the spread of West Nile virus:
• Drain or dump standing water weekly. For example, dump standing water from flowerpots, planter bases, birdbaths, toys, cans, rain gutters, pet dishes, buckets, and old tires.
• Ensure that screen doors and windows are tight-fitting and in good condition.
• Avoid overwatering your lawn and landscape.
• Limit outdoor activities during dusk and dawn to prevent mosquito bites. Those are the times when the mosquitoes that transmit WNV are most active.
• Dress in long-sleeve shirts and long pants, preferably in light colors when recreating outdoors during dawn and dusk.
• Apply insect repellent following label instructions. To see where WNV has been found in Ada County in 2021