Health officials in Tampa Bay are urging residents to take precautions against mosquito bites as the CDC reports an unusually high number of West Nile virus cases early in the season. While Florida has only one human case, a sentinel chicken in Pasco County tested positive for the virus in April, indicating local mosquito activity. The Pasco County Mosquito Control District has increased surveillance and conducted targeted control measures to reduce mosquito populations and prevent disease transmission. Experts explain that West Nile virus primarily affects birds and is transmitted to humans through infected mosquito bites, with most infections being asymptomatic. Officials advise residents not to panic but to take simple precautions such as removing standing water and using insect repellent containing DEET, especially during dawn and dusk hours when mosquitoes are most active.
Pasco County Mosquito Control Warns of West Nile Virus Activity Amid July Weekend
