Southern Nevada Health District officials report that they’ve identified the first West Nile-carrying mosquitos in the Southern Nevada area for 2023.
Thursday, June 15, 2023 | 4:11 p.m.
Mosquitos in Southern Nevada
The Southern Nevada Health District announced today that officials have identified the first West Nile-positive mosquitoes in Southern Nevada.
“The positive mosquito results illustrate that West Nile Virus is active in Southern Nevada and that residents need to be vigilant about eliminating mosquito breeding sources while also protecting themselves from mosquito bites,” District Health Officer Dr. Fermin Leguen said in a press release.
The virus-positive mosquitoes were identified in the 89074 zip code-area, the Green Valley location in Henderson, by the Southern Nevada Public Health Laboratory, according to health officials.
West Nile virus is the main driver of mosquito-borne diseases in the continental United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While eight of 10 people infected with West Nile virus show no symptoms, some can develop a fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Most people recover completely, according to the CDC.
About 1 in 150 people experience a serious illness that can affect the brain or surrounding areas and cause disorientation, coma, vision loss or paralysis. People over the age of 60, those with chronic illnesses or those who have recently received organ transplants are at greater risk of a severe illness.
There are no vaccines to prevent or medication to treat the virus, according to the CDC.
In 2020, there was only one case of West Nile virus recorded in Clark County, and none have been reported since 2021, said Vivek Raman, environmental health supervisor for the health district.
The last time Clark County experienced a severe mosquito season was in 2019 when 43 human cases of West Nile virus resulting in one death were recorded after a stormy spring, Raman said. The health district declared a West Nile virus outbreak at that time.
The county has yet to see any cases of West Nile virus this year, but officials are expecting the mosquito population to only increase throughout the summer. Putting screens over windows, using insect repellents like citronella and wearing long-sleeved clothing while outside during peak mosquito hours can reduce people’s risk of being bitten, Raman said.
Residents can also pitch in to help with mosquito abatement by removing any stagnant water in their backyards, talking to their code enforcement if they see standing water in pools or reporting mosquito activity to the SNHD’s hotline at 702-759-1633.
