The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is reminding residents to be proactive in preventing mosquito bites, especially with the rising number of culex tarsalis mosquitoes carrying the virus.

Last week, our area of the province had close to 6.6 percent of mosquito traps test positive. That's up to 22.4 percent this week, with 2 pools in the Assiniboia area testing positive.

"The province has had a number of positives in the province in the last week and two of those were in the Assiniboia area," warned Medical Health Officer with the SHA Dr. Mark Vooght. "Now, we've always said [finding infected moaquitoes] is like a needle in the haystack but we know that there are also positives all over the province up to Saskatoon."

Health Officials in the region recommend wearing bug repellent to avoid bites and wear long sleeve clothing and pants during the evening, as that's when culex tarsalis tend to appear more.

They also recommend you try to limit your time outdoors at night and make sure mosquitoes aren't able to enter your house, trailer, or tents.

The Government of Saskatchewan also has weekly surveillance of the virus, which you can view to see where our area of the province sits for risk levels.