Health officials in Clark County report St. Louis encephalitis case

year.

More than 33,000 mosquitoes collected by health district workers have been tested by the Nevada Department of Agriculture.

Last year, two groups totaling 100 mosquitoes tested positive for St. Louis encephalitis. This year, the numbers have ballooned, with 177 groups totaling 5,555 mosquitoes testing positive so far.

Health officials also are concerned about another illness transmitted by infected mosquitoes: the West Nile virus. The first case this year in Clark County was reported earlier this week.

Dr. Joseph Iser, chief health officer with the Southern Nevada Health District, said preventative measures against mosquito bites are the best defense against such illnesses.

“With the increased number of St. Louis encephalitis-positive mosquitoes in Southern Nevada this season, we are not surprised to receive confirmation of a human case of the illness,” he said. “It is another reminder to the community to protect themselves from bites and check their homes and yards for mosquito breeding sources.” Contact Pashtana Usufzy at pusufzy@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4563. Find @pashtana_u on Twitter.