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More Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile Virus

CREATED Sep 3, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – More mosquitoes collected in Davidson County have tested positive for the West Nile virus -- some for the first time this year.

Metro Public Health Department officials said Thursday that mosquitoes in six neighborhoods have tested positive for the virus, including Antioch, Bordeaux, East Nashville and Goodlettsville. This was the first time this year that mosquitoes have tested positive in Green Hills and Old Hickory.

So far, no human cases have been reported in Davidson County.

The Health Department Pest Management staff will visit the area to pass out information about steps to protect against mosquitoes. They said there are no plans to spray to kill adult mosquitoes.

The Health Department recommended the following steps to protect against biting mosquitoes, including:

• Limit time outdoors at dusk and nighttime hours when mosquitoes are present.
• If you must be outdoors then wear a mosquito repellent that is approved for use by the CDC – those include products that contain DEET, Picaridin, and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
• Wear shoes, socks, long sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors during dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most prevalent. Clothing should be light colored and made of tightly woven materials to keep mosquitoes away from the skin. Pant legs should be tucked into shoes or socks, and collars should be buttoned.
• Make sure your windows and doors have screens and are in good repair.
• Health Department officials recommend taking steps to reduce mosquito breeding areas. This includes:
• Reduce or eliminate all standing water in your yard – especially in children’s toys, bird baths, clogged gutters, tires, flowerpots, trashcans, and wheelbarrows.
• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with Gambusia fish.
• Apply mosquito dunks in standing water areas on your property.
• Cut back overgrown vegetation (mosquito hiding areas).

Information is also available at the Health Department’s website.