West Nile Virus mosquitoes detected in Southern Nevada [Video]

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – As the 2024 mosquito surveillance season begins, the Southern Nevada Health District announced the detection of the first West Nile Virus (WNV) positive mosquitoes in Clark County.

“With these early findings, the Health District urges Clark County residents to join the Fight the Bite campaign to reduce the impact of mosquitoes,” SNHD wrote in a media release.

The Health District’s Mosquito Disease Surveillance Program trapped and identified the West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes in the 89031 and 89032 ZIP codes. In addition to identifying mosquitoes that commonly carry West Nile Virus, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are known carriers of Zika, dengue, and chikungunya. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have significantly increased in number since they were reported in Clark County in 2017.

Since starting its seasonal mosquito surveillance on April 1, Health District staff have set more than 875 traps to survey mosquito quantity, species and infected mosquitoes. Traps are placed at parks, wash channels, wetland areas, residential communities and other potential …