Mosquitoes in Jeff Davis test positive for West Nile

Published 7:56 am Friday, July 1, 2022

It is the first reported case of West Nile in a mosquito in the parish this year, according to Director Robert Tonn.

The Abatement District has been collecting samples from mosquito pools and sending them to labs for testing.

“At last count we have submitted 95 mosquito pools, but this has been the only case reported this year in Jeff Davis Parish,” Tonn said.

Last year 200-300 samples were submitted, but none came back positive, he said.

“Some years we have some cases, some years we don’t get any,” Tonn said. “We have been very fortunate to be on the good end.”

The Louisiana Department of Health said Thursday in a news release it has received reports of West Nile virus present in more than 175 mosquito pools this year, a number much higher than last year at this time, when 13 pools tested positive.

The high number of positive cases in the pool samples means there is a great risk of West Nile virus spreading to humans, though no human cases have been reported so far this year, according to the DHH.

State health officials said the virus is spread by mosquitoes and can affect humans and animals.

Common symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, body aches, nausea or skin rash. In more serious cases, symptoms may include high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, muscle weakness, numbness, coma and paralysis.

Symptoms can last several weeks and carry the risk of death or permanent brain damage.

In Jeff Davis Parish, Tonn said officials will continue to monitor mosquitoes through November. Traditionally, September and October are the peak season for mosquitoes in the parish, he said.

Despite the lack of rain, Tonn said mosquito abatement crews have been spraying throughout the parish. It usually takes 7-10 days to spray the whole parish.

“We are spraying the area with four to six trucks, depending on the weather and the amount of drivers we have,” Tonn said.

Crews will begin aerial spraying as the mosquito populations increase, he said.

“Right now our numbers are low because of the dry conditions,” Tonn said. “We are still so dry it will take quite a bit of rain before it starts to saturate the ground.”

An increase in mosquito population has been detected in areas where crawfish ponds are being drained.

Tonn urges the public to take protective measures against mosquitoes, including emptying out any standing water, especially in buckets or containers in the yard. Birdbaths should be filled with fresh water.

Residents should use insect repellent and wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.

Fans can be used to “blow out” mosquitoes from inside garages or carports.