West Nile virus found in Carson

State officials say they have now found mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus in Carson City, Washoe County and Mason Valley.

The announcement comes just a week after the state Agriculture Department’s Animal disease lab detected infected insects in Douglas County.

Acting State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Rink said climate conditions have been favorable for the mosquitoes to breed this year. She said normally positive tests from pools, birds or horses start in late July and end with the first killing frosts in October.

She said all horse owners should update their West Nile vaccinations. While there are four effective vaccines for horses, Rink said development of a treatment for humans is still under way and no product to vaccinate humans is yet available.

But, she said, there are repellents available to help people avoid being bitten by infected mosquitoes.

The active ingredients in those products include DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or Ir3535.

Symptoms of West Nile include fever with a headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash.

She said further information on those active ingredients can be found online at: www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/mosquitoes/ai_insect rp.htm.