From NBC Los Angeles
July 15, 2021
Mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus were discovered in the east Coachella Valley community of Mecca, officials announced Thursday.
The infected mosquitoes were collected from a trap near Johnson Street and Avenue 70, according to the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.
“As temperatures increase, so do mosquitoes,” said Tammy Gordon, a district spokeswoman. “When mosquito numbers rise, disease risk also increases. Wearing EPA-approved repellent lowers your chance of being bitten and getting sick.”
Vector control officials said this was the first positive test in the eastern Coachella Valley in 2021. It was not immediately clear whether there were other infected mosquitos discovered countywide.