Portland mosquitoes have tested positive for the West Nile virus. It is the first mosquito pool this year to test positive for the disease, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control.
This year, four wild birds in the counties of Kennebec, Sagadahoc, and York have also tested positive for West Nile.
The illness can induce flu-like symptoms in humans as well as meningitis and brain enlargement in extreme situations. A Cumberland County adult tested positive for the virus last year. Officials from the state CDC advise anyone experiencing symptoms to consult a physician, particularly if a COVID-19 test comes back negative.
Mosquitoes, which can also carry Jamestown Canyon virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, are the vectors of West Nile virus transmission.
Additionally, Dr. Puthiery Va, director of the Maine CDC, said mosquitoes are still active despite the dry summer.
The equivalent of a bottle cap of standing water is all that certain mosquitoes need to lay their eggs in the standing water surrounding our homes,” she explains.
Vah is advising Mainers to dispose of man-made standing water sources near their houses, like as pet bowls, bird baths, and empty plant pots. She advises Mainers to wear long sleeves and repellent outside, as well as to install screens on windows and doors.
