KAYSVILLE — Concerns over West Nile virus are growing after more than 40 testing pools of mosquitoes trapped in Davis County have tested positive.
The next wave of flood mosquitoes that experts worry about are not virus-carrying bugs, but they are still a nuisance, and the Davis Mosquito Control District has been busier than usual, spraying wetlands with insecticides to combat the problem.
This year was expected to be a busy season due to high water levels and a prolonged heat wave in Utah, two factors that lead to high mosquito populations and activity throughout the summer.
As officials try to get an accurate sample of the situation, District Superintendent Gary Hatch said the Davis district is conducting the most testing in the state, and while no human cases have been reported so far, the virus has been detected in 39 of the 3,000 pools.
“We saw that the mosquito population was starting to grow much higher than normal, and with the heat continuing through June and the end of July, we knew this could be a year for a massive virus outbreak,” he said. “Thirty-nine ponds is a pretty large number for this time of year.”
During the monsoon season, workers are actively working to cover as much wetland land as possible.
Hatch said homeowners also need to do their part: While floodwater-dwelling mosquitoes don’t carry the West Nile virus, they can be a big nuisance.
“With all this rain, make sure you check to see if there’s any standing water around your home. Make sure you don’t have any buckets or pails or wheelbarrows or wading pools or anything like that sitting there to collect water,” Hatch said.
Hatch knows more flood mosquitoes are coming.
“Those are Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, yellowish brown mosquitoes, and they bite all day long. In 10 to 12 days, you’ll see a surge in the population of these mosquitoes,” Hatch said.
This increase is something to be prepared for: As long as summer temperatures remain warm, the insects will stick around.
“When you combine heat, water and mosquitoes, the virus multiplies and becomes active,” he said.
However, mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus usually bite after dark, so if you’re outside during that time, Hatch recommends wearing long sleeves, long pants and insect repellent, especially after dark.