mosquitoes

The Indiana Department of Health is warning people to use insect repellent and wear protective clothing following the state’s first reported West Nile virus case of 2024. The agency expects to see additional cases as the mosquito season progresses.

The first Indiana case of West Nile virus disease this year has been identified in a Johnson County resident.

As of Friday, 83 mosquito pools positive for West Nile virus were detected in Allen, Clark, Daviess, Elkhart, Floyd, Gibson, Hamilton, Jennings, Lake, Marion, Martin, Pike, Scott, Steuben, St. Joseph, Vanderburgh and Vigo counties.

The Indiana Department of Health said so far in 2021, one mosquito sample collected in Vigo County tested positive for West Nile virus. No human cases have been detected, but officials expect to see more West Nile activity as the mosquito season progresses.

As of Aug. 6, mosquitoes in Allen, Marion and St. Joseph counties have tested positive for West Nile virus.

Although mosquito activity decreases with cooler temperatures, state health officials say the risk of mosquito-borne diseases won't end for the year until the first hard freeze occurs.

The National Institutes of Health awarded the grant to study bacteria that affects how mosquitoes transmit diseases such as West Nile virus and Zika.

Mosquitoes have tested positive for the West Nile Virus in at least five counties in Indiana.

Each year, the health department's Mosquito Control program collects mosquitoes to test for the virus.

There are ways to prevent these nuisances while enjoying the outdoors.