Metro Nashville Public Health Department officials announced that the first batch of mosquitoes collected by the Department’s Pest Management Division tested positive for West Nile virus.
The samples were taken over the past week near the intersection of Nolensville Road and Glenrose Ave.
There have been no human cases reported.
Officials said the staff was set to revisit the areas in the coming week to set additional traps, monitor areas of standing water, and will larvicide if mosquito larvae are present.
The Health Department began trapping mosquitoes earlier this month and sending them to be tested at the Tennessee Department of Health’s lab.
Health officials recommended taking the following steps to protect against biting mosquitoes:
- 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.
Health Department officials recommend taking steps to reduce mosquito breeding areas. This includes:
- Reduce or eliminate all standing water in your yard – especially in children’s toys, bird baths, clogged gutters, tires, flowerpots, trashcans, 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 (mosquito hiding areas)..
Anyone seeking more information about mosquito control in Davidson County was told to call 615-340-5660.
Information could also be found on the Health Department’s website and Facebook page.
