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Health officials in Nashville are urging residents to guard themselves from mosquito bites after West Nile virus was detected in mosquitoes for the primary time this yr.
The Metro Public Well being Division (MPHD) introduced the virus was present in a mosquito pool collected close to Cass Avenue in North Nashville, marking the town’s first detection of West Nile virus in 2026 and the earliest constructive mosquito pattern of the season.
The detection comes after well being officers reported elevated West Nile virus exercise in mosquito swimming pools throughout 2025, when one human case of the virus was confirmed.
“We are able to all play a task in decreasing the presence of mosquitoes in our group, making our outside areas each extra nice and safer from mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile virus,” Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of well being on the Metro Public Well being Division, mentioned in a press release to Fox 17.
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A detailed-up exhibits mosquitoes feeding in Tehatta, India, on Could 1, 2026. Well being officers in Nashville lately detected West Nile virus in a mosquito pool, prompting residents to take precautions in opposition to mosquito bites. (Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto through Getty Pictures)
“As our group educates these within the space the place West Nile virus was discovered, we hope the remainder of our group does what they’ll to guard themselves and their households from mosquitoes this summer time.”
In accordance with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, West Nile virus is the main mosquito-borne illness in the USA. Most individuals contaminated with the virus don’t develop signs, however about one in 5 expertise fever, complications, physique aches, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash. Fewer than 1% develop a critical neurological sickness that may have an effect on the mind or spinal twine, with older adults and other people with weakened immune methods going through the best danger.
Public well being officers routinely entice and check mosquitoes all through the summer time to observe for West Nile virus exercise. A constructive mosquito pattern doesn’t essentially imply individuals within the space will turn into contaminated, but it surely serves as an early warning that the virus is circulating domestically.
In response to the constructive check, MPHD mentioned crews are distributing academic flyers within the affected neighborhood, rising mosquito trapping, monitoring standing water and making use of larvicide the place wanted to assist scale back mosquito populations. The division mentioned it doesn’t spray insecticide to kill grownup mosquitoes.
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The Aedes mosquito is a recognized vector for a number of viruses, together with West Nile virus, yellow fever virus, dengue virus, chikungunya virus, and Zika virus. (Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto through Getty Pictures)
Residents may request a free yard inspection from the division’s Pest Administration group to establish areas the place mosquitoes could also be breeding.
Health officials recommend eliminating standing water from fowl baths, flowerpots, buckets, outdated tires, kids’s toys and different outside containers the place mosquitoes lay eggs. Trimming overgrown vegetation round properties may assist scale back mosquito exercise.
A subject pattern of mosquitoes that would carry West Nile Virus is seen at workplaces of the Riverside County Division of Environmental Well being on April 26, 2007, in Hemet, California. (David McNew/Getty Pictures)
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To assist stop mosquito bites, the well being division recommends utilizing EPA-approved insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, sporting lengthy sleeves and pants outside throughout peak mosquito hours round nightfall and daybreak, and ensuring window and door screens are in good restore.
Officers mentioned decreasing mosquito breeding round properties will help decrease the chance of West Nile virus and different mosquito-borne illnesses all through the group.