Mosquitoes in Crystal City & Pevely Test Positive for West Nile Virus

Mosquitoes in Crystal City and Pevely Test Positive for West Nile Virus

Jefferson County, Missouri – On August 5, adult mosquitoes collected from a trap site in Crystal City tested positive for the West Nile Virus. Officials in the city have been notified of the positive results. The Jefferson County Health Department (JCHD) conducts surveillance in this area but does not have jurisdiction for control. With this stated, JCHD’s Mosquito Control and Surveillance program will continue to monitor mosquitoes for the West Nile Virus throughout the county.

In addition to Crystal City, adult mosquitoes were collected from a trap site in Pevely that also tested positive for West Nile Virus. The area testing positive in Pevely resides in a special jurisdiction known as the Festus Special Road District. The district lacks equipment for treatments and so JCHD’s Mosquito Control and Surveillance program will conduct treatment once weather permits.

The Jefferson County Health Department asks that residents remain diligent in protecting themselves and their families from mosquitoes. Residents should continue using insect repellents approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that contain one of the following active ingredients:

• DEET
• Picardian
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus
• IR3535
• 2-undecanone

Whenever possible, residents should wear clothes that cover exposed skin to reduce the risk of being bitten. Residents can also reduce the number of mosquitoes around their home and property by getting rid of all standing water at least 1 time per week and scrub out any containers that were holding standing water.

For more information about the JCHD Mosquito Control and Surveillance Program, preventing mosquito-spread diseases, or mosquito control, please visit www.jeffcohealth.org