Some of Utah’s closest neighbors, including California and Colorado, have already reported the presence of the West Nile Virus, but so far Tooele Valley remains in the clear.
The species that carries and spreads the virus to humans, the Culex tarsalis mosquito, is active in the valley, but sentinel tests have yet to detect the virus itself, said Scott Bradshaw, district manager for Tooele Valley Mosquito Abatement. The tarsalis species usually peaks in late July, and warm summer temperatures seem to accelerate the spread of the virus.
But so far no known cases — human or otherwise — have occurred in the valley.
Despite the negative test results, Bradshaw said local residents should take precautions to avoid mosquitoes and the diseases they often spread to humans.
“There’s always a chance [the virus will spread into Tooele], especially with the heat,” he said. “When we have the hot summers, the virus is just kind of amplified.”
Bradshaw recommended that residents wear repellents containing DEET while outdoors, and limit outdoor activity around dawn and dusk when mosquitos are most active. When weather permits, wearing long clothing can provide an additional layer of protection.
Bradshaw also requested that property owners remove any containers of standing water from their yards. Most mosquitos require shallow, stagnant water in which to lay eggs and grow larvae.