West Nile virus found in Churchill County mosquito pool; bird infected

FALLON - A mosquito pool in Churchill County has tested positive for the West Nile virus, according to Nancy Upham, director of the Churchill County Mosquito & Vector Control & Weed Abatement District.

The pool is in a desert area off of North Harmon Road, Upham said. She said the pool, which tested positive two weeks ago, is on a priority list because the area, which was previously dry, received a lot of water due to the unusually wet spring. Mosquito eggs, which can lie dormant for years, will hatch when they get a sufficient water source.

"We have adulticided that area pretty heavily," Upham, meaning the district is targeting, and treating for, adult mosquitoes at this point.

Upham also said the district has found one magpie infected with West Nile in the valley this year. She said the virus is beginning to reappear this year throughout the state, with pools in Yerington and a goose in Reno testing positive.

She said the district's sentinel chickens are not testing positive at this point.

The 60 chickens are stationed around the valley in 12 coops and are tested biweekly.

"They've been working well. We've been bleeding them every two weeks. We've got enough chickens to do (test) one batch every week," Upham said.

The district is using both insecticides in pellet form and fogs to treat for mosquitoes.

"In the daytime, we're doing preventive measures with pellets and in the evenings we're fogging," she said.

According to the Nevada State Health Division's Web site, there were four cases of West Nile virus reported in humans in Churchill County last year and a total of 30 cases statewide.

No human cases have been reported so far this year.

• Contact reporter Christy Lattin at clattin@lahontanvalleynews.com.