White County Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile Virus

The Tennessee Department of Health reported cases of West Nile Virus in White County mosquitoes.

Dr. Abelardo Moncayo is the Director of Vector-Borne Diseases at TDH.

Moncayo said the state tests for West Nile to prevent human transmission.

“It’s to give us an early warning about West Nile in the state at specific locations. Every year we see West Nile,” Moncayo said. “We have seen it for over a decade now in Tennessee. But the actual intensity of transmission and location changes from year to year.”

TDH tested mosquitoes in a state laboratory. Sparta mosquitoes specifically carry the West Nile virus.

Moncayo said many people with West Nile never show symptoms.

“But then about twenty percent might get a fever and sometimes that ranges from a mild fever to a more severe, significant fever,” Moncayo said. “And a small percentage has involvement of the brain, so they have encephalitis. Then a very small percent of those might end up as fatalities.”

Tennessee sees the most cases of West Nile during the fall months, Moncayo said.

There is no vaccination for the West Nile virus, but people can avoid the virus by limiting exposure to mosquitoes. Removing standing water from around homes and wearing mosquito repellent can protect people from the virus.