West Nile virus positive mosquitoes detected in Sheridan

The Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District is urging residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites with EPA-registered repellent after confirming the first mosquito sample to test positive for West Nile virus in the county for 2024. The mosquitoes were collected in Sheridan in rural northwest Placer County. The district traps and tests mosquitoes for West Nile virus weekly throughout the county during the summer. The district uses the test results to assess the risk of West Nile virus transmission to people, inform the public and make preventive or responsive vector control treatments in the most safe, timely and effective way possible to protect public health. "We anticipate more West Nile virus detections as the hot weather sustains in the coming weeks," stated Joel Buettner, Placer Mosquito District manager. "We encourage residents to wear an EPA-registered repellent to protect themselves from mosquito bites while we enhance our surveillance efforts and schedule treatments to help lower the risk of disease transmission to people." West Nile virus is a potentially serious illness transmitted through the bite of a female mosquito, and there is no cure. The best way to avoid West Nile virus is to prevent mosquito bites with an EPA-registered repellent, dump and drain standing water on your property to prevent breeding and if you think you have a mosquito problem, submit a problem report on the district website. For more information, contact the Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District at 916-380-5444 or placermosquito.org. For a list of EPA-registered repellents, visit placermosquito.org/repellent.