Holt County mosquito pools test positive for West Nile Virus

A total of four mosquito pools have now tested positive for West Nile Virus in Holt County, near O'Neill.

West Nile Virus is still circulating in the environment. Residents, not only in Holt County, but across Nebraska, should continue to take precautions to protect themselves until the first hard freeze, according to Elizabeth Parks, disease surveillance coordinator at North Central District Health Department.

Precautions include:

• Limit time spent outdoors at dusk and down when mosquitoes are most active.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants if outdoors at dusk or dawn.

• Apply an EPA-approved mosquito repellant (DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535

• Get rid of standing water that mosquitoes may breed in.

In a Sept. 6 email with SAM, Parks said "two 'probable' cases of West Nile Virus have been detected in Holt County over the past several weeks."

A mosquito dashboard with more information is maintained at http://www.ncdhd.ne.gov

North Central District Health Department serves Antelope, Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Holt, Keya Paha, Knox, Pierce, and Rock Counties.