CANYON COUNTY, ID – According to the Canyon County Mosquito Abatement District West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes collected on August 1, 2024, southwest of Melba, Idaho, and on August 6, 2024, west of Caldwell. This marks the second and third positive test results in Canyon County this season.
“Surveillance data suggests low levels of virus circulation throughout Canyon County,” said Jim Lunders, Director of the Canyon County Mosquito Abatement District.
Lunders explained that the District routinely sets gravid traps and dry ice-baited EVS Traps at over 100 locations to monitor adult mosquito populations and the presence of vector-borne diseases. To date, the District has tested nearly 1,300 mosquito pools this season for West Nile virus, with three testing positive, each from different locations.
The areas where the mosquitoes were collected have been treated for both larval and adult mosquitoes.
“We encourage the public to help us reduce the mosquito population by eliminating larval habitat around your homes,” Lunders stated.
To reduce the risk of exposure to West Nile virus, Lunders recommends the following precautions:
Eliminate Standing Water: Remove or treat all sources of standing water, such as flooded fields, birdbaths, unused wading and swimming pools, clogged gutters, and old tires. “If it holds water for seven days, it can produce mosquitoes,” Lunders warned.
Personal Protection: Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when in mosquito-infested areas. Use mosquito repellents containing DEET, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, Picaridin, or 2-undecanone, following the directions on the container. Ensure all screen doors and windows are in good repair and fit tightly.
Protect Livestock: Vaccinate horses for West Nile virus (WNV), Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE), and other diseases. Use EPA-registered residual insect sprays on horses, following the directions on the container. Have your livestock watering troughs stocked with mosquitofish for free by submitting a service request to the CCMAD.
Report Large Sites: Notify the District at (208) 461-8633 if you have a site that is too large to eliminate so it can be properly treated.
For more information on mosquitoes and the diseases they carry, visit:
- Idaho Department of Health and Welfare https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/diseases-conditions/west-nile-virus
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html
- Canyon County Mosquito Abatement District https://www.2cmad.org/