Mosquitoes In Ramsey County Test Positive For West Nile
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – West Nile virus is back in Minnesota, and officials are urging residents to avoid mosquito bites, dump out standing water and report dead birds.
The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District announced Wednesday that a sample taken in Ramsey County tested positive this week for West Nile virus.
While there've been no human cases of the virus reported, the recent rains will likely give a boost the mosquito population responsible to spreading the virus in birds.
"West Nile virus is usually detected in mosquito samples around this time of year, and it will continue to circulate among mosquitoes and birds," said Kirk Johnson, a MMCD vector ecologist, in a statement. "Even though the health risk is still low, we should all use common sense measures to avoid mosquito bites."
The MMCD says risk of West Nile virus can reduced by wearing bug spray, long sleeve shirts and dumping out water-holding containers in backyards or neighborhoods.
The group also says that if citizens see a dead bird they should report it here.