“We send in mosquitoes from different areas in the county and the state tests them to see if any of them test positive for West Nile, and we did have one positive sample from the last batch we sent in,” said Roni Elder, Vigo County health educator.
West Nile virus is not new to Vigo County.
According to the 2018 Vigo County health report, last year 30 out of 83 mosquito samples tested positive for the virus.
Elder says this time around, the positive sample is later than normal.
“Usually we have more cases earlier on in the summer and then we have to deal with it for the rest of the season, we’re just getting it much later this time,” Elder said.
Elder says so far there have been no human cases of West Nile in the state of Indiana but county residents should take steps to make sure they don’t contract virus.
“Remembering to dump out any stagnant water that you have in your yard is really important, because that keeps the breeding grounds outside of your yard, wearing long sleeves and pants, and of course using bug spray,” Elder said.
Elder says the county will continue to spray for mosquitoes.
