The West Nile virus has spread out among mosquitoes in the Salt Lake County. One mosquito pool has tested positive from Magna. It is a test tube of trapped mosquitoes known to transmit the virus. Another pool has tested positive in Uintah County along with two in Davis County and six in Washington County.

No cases of horses or humans have been reported yet. Compared to last year it is a very mild season and also less severe than anticipated. Last year a total of 183 mosquitoes had tested positive by mid-August.

Sammie Dickson, manager of the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, which has yet to detect any infected pests said “We thought with April through June being very wet, we felt we would have a bumper crop of mosquitoes. What really happened were the cold temperatures along with that slowed down the mosquito development.”

Dickson still recommends the use of repellent after dusk. Ilene Risk, epidemiology bureau manager for the Salt Lake Valley Health Department said, “People may notice more day-biting mosquitoes after the recent rainstorms, but those don’t carry the virus. The virus-carrying pests bite only at night.”