Mosquitoes in South Bend test positive for West Nile

The Indiana Department of Health says mosquitoes in South Bend have tested positive for West Nile.

St. Joseph County is one of 21 counties where mosquitoes carrying West Nile have been found so far this year.

Only two cases of West Nile in humans have been identified this year. Neither case was in St. Joseph County.

The state has suggestions for preventing mosquito bites.

• Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are active (especially late afternoon, dusk to dawn, and early morning);
• Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to clothes and exposed skin;
• Cover exposed skin by wearing a hat, long sleeves and long pants in places where mosquitoes are especially active, such as wooded areas;
• Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of the home.

The state also has suggestions for preventing mosquito breeding on your property:

• Discard old tires, tin cans, ceramic pots or other containers that can hold water;
• Repair failed septic systems;
• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers left outdoors;
• Keep grass cut short and shrubbery trimmed;
• Clean clogged roof gutters, particularly if leaves tend to plug up the drains;
• Frequently replace the water in pet bowls.
• Flush ornamental fountains and birdbaths periodically, and aerate ornamental pools or stock them with predatory fish.
• Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use (a wading pool becomes a mosquito producer if not used on a regular basis).

Visit the CDC website for more information on West Nile.