LOCAL

West Nile virus found in mosquito pool near zoo

Ashley Mott
The News Star

One mosquito pool in Ouachita Parish has tested positive for West Nile virus according to the Mosquito Abatement District. 

The pool was collected July 25-27 near the Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo and Bernstein Park area.

According to a Friday statement from the district, the area was previously treated by air. 

People are advised to take protective measures when working outdoors, particularly during the evening. These measures include wearing a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and using an EPA-approved repellent. Repellent should be applied to exposed skin and on thin clothing because mosquitoes can bite through thin clothing.

Care should be taken to ensure that water-holding containers are emptied to deny mosquitoes a place to breed.

Pins stuck into a map at the Ouachita Parish Mosquito Abatement office represent areas where researchers have set traps to collect the insects. Population determines where the traps are set. Researchers collect mosquitoes from all over Ouachita Parish.