LOGAN — Mosquito samples collected in Cache County have tested positive for West Nile virus, the Cache Mosquito Abatement District announced Friday.
The positive samples were found in mosquitoes from Amalga, Trenton, Lewiston, Richmond, Wellsville, Newton, Benson, Hyrum and Mendon.
The update came the same day the Bear River Health Department confirmed two human cases of the virus in Cache Valley. Symptoms can range from a mild, flu-like illness to more severe neurological problems in rare cases.
In response, the district said it will continue its surveillance and abatement efforts. The primary method of control is larviciding, which targets mosquito larvae. Fogging will be conducted at night, when the Culex mosquitoes, known carriers of the virus, are most active.
In collaboration with the Bear River Health Department, the district is advising residents to take precautions to reduce mosquito exposure. These include using EPA-registered insect repellent, eliminating standing water, and wearing long sleeves and pants between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
Other recommended measures are:
- Maintaining roof gutters and keeping them clear of debris.
- Regularly cleaning or draining swimming pools.
- Ensuring all window and door screens are intact.
- Trimming tall grass and weeds, which can be resting places for mosquitoes during the day.