NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Mosquitoes collected by the Metro Public Health Department's pest management division have tested positive for the West Nile Virus, health officials confirmed today.
The mosquitoes that tested positive were trapped in South Nashville near Brentwood and the intersection of Edmonson Pike and Holt Road, as well the Goodlettsville neighborhood near the intersection of West Monticello Avenue and Monticello Avenue.
Pest management staff from the Metro Health Department will mail information about mosquito protection and prevention to addresses in areas close to where the mosquitoes were trapped. They will also continue to monitor standing water, looking for mosquito larvae. Granular larvicide will be applied to any area where mosquito larvae are present.
The Metro Health Department started trapping mosquitoes in all of Davidson County the first week in May. The mosquitoes are sent to the Tennessee Department of Health's lab for testing.
No human cases of West Nile Virus have been reported in Davidson County. There are no plans to spray to kill adult mosquitoes.
Metro Public Health Department spokesperson Brian Todd said this is the third positive test in the 2020 season, which has been a relatively quiet year for West Nile in Nashville.
"I think this might be the third batch that has tested positive, that's much lower than in previous years," Todd said, adding that the positive tests should be a reminder for people around the metro.
"Just because it's in Brentwood area or Goodlettsville, it's possible they could still be in any area of Nashville, so this is a really a strong reminder," Todd said.
To protect against mosquito bites, the Health Department recommends the following:
- Limit time outdoors at dusk and nighttime hours when mosquitoes are present.
- If you must be outdoors then wear a mosquito repellent that is approved for use by the CDC. Those include products that contain DEET, Picaridin, and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
- Wear shoes, socks, long sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors during dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most prevalent. Clothing should be light colored and made of tightly woven materials to keep mosquitoes away from the skin. Pant legs should be tucked into shoes or socks, and collars should be buttoned.
- Make sure your windows and doors have screens and are in good repair.
It is also recommended to take steps to reduce mosquito breeding areas:
- Reduce or eliminate all standing water in your yard – especially in children’s toys, bird baths, clogged gutters, tires, flowerpots, trash cans, and wheelbarrows.
- Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with Gambusia fish.
- Apply mosquito dunks in standing water areas on your property.
- Cut back overgrown vegetation, which serve as mosquito hiding areas.
You can visit the Metro Public Health Department's page on mosquitoes for more information. Davidson County residents having mosquito problems can call (615) 340-5660 to arrange having a pest management staff member inspect their property and provide mosquito control and prevention advice. Pest management staff will check for standing water and apply the larvicide if necessary.
