Heat brings longer mosquito season, more West Nile cases to Shasta County

From KRCR 7
August 31, 2022

As excessive, triple-digit temperatures engulf our area, the number of mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus (WNV) continues to grow.

On Wednesday this week, the Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District (Shasta MVCD) said they saw WNV-positive mosquito sample levels above what they have seen in the last six years.

Shasta MVCD officials said the continued record drought and warm temperatures will encourage a longer season for mosquitoes and the diseases they carry. Out of the hundreds of samples taken from adult mosquitoes in the area, as of Aug. 26, 30 were found to be positive with WNV.

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