ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- The St. Joseph County Health Department announced on Thursday that a pool of West Nile Virus-positive mosquitoes has been identified in Clay Township.

As of July 10, St. Joseph County is now one of four counties in the state where mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus have been found this year.

Health officials say it is expected that West Nile Virus will be increasingly identified in the Michiana area throughout the remainder of the summer and until the first hard frost.

Steps to protect from mosquitoes:

• Avoid being outdoors during prime mosquito biting times, which are dusk and dawn - when possible.
• Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthane diol to clothes and exposed skin.
• Wear a hat, long sleeves, and long pants to cover exposed skin in places where mosquitoes are especially active, such as wooded areas.
• Treat clothing and outdoor gear with 0.5% permethrin if camping or spending extended periods of time outdoors.
• Make sure all windows and doors have screens and that all screens are in good repair.
• Reduce mosquito breeding on and around your property.

Tips to reduce mosquito breeding:

• Get rid of old tires, tin cans, or other containers that can hold water. Even a small bucket with stagnant water can become home to up to 1,000 mosquitoes.
• Tip bird baths, flowerpots, and other water-holding containers weekly and refill with clean water.
• Repair failed septic systems.
• Keep rain barrels covered with wire mesh smaller than adult mosquitoes.
• Clean roof gutters (roof gutters can produce millions of mosquitoes each season).
• Keep swimming pools cleaned and chlorinated.
• Drain and fill stagnant pools, puddles, ditches, or swampy places around the home and property.

The St. Joseph County Department of Health says it does treat for mosquitoes, including spraying when public health threats are detected.

You can sign up for spraying alerts and get more info on West Nile Virus on the health department's website.