Tulare County Health Officials are warning all Tulare County communities to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

They said they are seeing more cases of West Nile and St. Louis Encephalitis virus this year, compared to last year.

On Tuesday, they confirmed there is one case of a person in Porterville who has the West Nile virus and said they have several other cases that are probable. 

The little pest is causing major health concerns in Tulare County. 

“The Vector Control Districts have been doing testing around the county for mosquito samples and we have very high positive mosquito samples for St. Louis Encephalitis and West Nile,” said Tammie Weyker-Adkins with the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency.

Weyker-Adkins said the Tulare Mosquito Abatement District found 19 positive mosquito samples, compared to three last year, capable of transmitting both viruses. 

She said the Delta Vector Control District found 77 positive mosquito samples for St. Louis Encephalitis. 

Officials said that’s nearly five times more then they found last year.  

“It’s very concerning we want to make sure that everyone knows what the symptoms are and those would be fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes,” Weyker-Adkins said.

Tulare County Health and Human Services said just because the weather is cooling down, it doesn’t mean mosquitoes have gone away. 

“It feels a little bit cooler but those viruses are still active in mosquitoes and mosquitoes are still biting especially at dawn and dusk,” Weyker-Adkins said.

She said residents, especially the elderly, need to take the proper precautions by wearing long sleeves, pants and bug repellent. 

Something Mary Garcia said she often does. 

“If I do go out I spray myself I’m not really an outdoors person I am a homey,” said Mary Garcia, a Tulare resident.

Again officials said it’s the mosquitoes that bite during the mornings and at night. 

They said if you do get bit by one and a few days later experience flu-like symptoms, then they said you should go to your doctor and asked to be tested. 

Officials said people can only get these viruses from the mosquito not through people like you can with Zika.