Toledo Area Sanitary District reports an increase in West Nile Virus
LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio (WNWO) - For now, the Toledo Area Sanitary District has stopped spraying individual properties. This is due to a reported increase in mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus.
The district was able to get a head start on traps this year, and already have a number of confirmed cases.
“We increased our West Nile surveillance by a lot,” said Jacob Sublett, a biologist for the Toledo Area Sanitary District.
Toledo Area Sanitary District has more than doubled the number of traps around Lucas County.
“We went from having 10 traps out every day to 27,” said Sublett.
The findings will have you itching.
“One of the very first nights this year, we got word from the state that we had a pool positive for West Nile,” said Sublett. “Currently, we have 11 positive pools we’ve confirmed from the state, that’s definitely more than this time last year.”
There are different types of traps for different mosquitoes. TASD is keeping an eye on the Northern House Mosquito, the most common carrier of West Nile.
“The traps have a bottom container that we put hay infused water in, an attractant to the mosquito, so they go and land on the water and get sucked up in a trap,” said Sublett.
Like the name, these little guys like to be where people are.
“They like to breed in things like buckets, anything that holds water, bird baths,” said Sublett.
The good news is; no Lucas County resident has been seen for West Nile. The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department said it’s important to take precautions.
“Wear mosquito repellent,” said Eric Zgodzinski, Health Commissioner at the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department.
It’s also important to watch for standing water.
"Any water containers in your yard should be turned over, sweep out bird baths," said Zgodzinski.
West Nile Virus can be difficult to determine because most people don’t show signs.
TASD said they will start spraying individual properties next week. For a map of confirmed cases, click here.