West Nile findings on increase in Acadia

Two sentinel chicken and a mosquito “pool” tested positive for the West Nile virus this week, according to Glenn Stokes, CEO of Mosquito Control Contractors, Inc.
And the incidents are becoming more widespread.
“One of the sentinel chickens that tested positive for West Nile indicators was from Lovell Street, just south of Crowley,” Stokes said. “The other was on Emar Drive, in the northeast area of the parish.”
Stokes said the mosquito “pool” was from a trap in the Higginbotham area.
A mosquito pool is a collection of mosquitoes — usually about 50 — taken from a trap. The mosquitoes are ground up and tested for West Nile.
Stokes told members of the police jury earlier last week that just one virus-carrying mosquito in a pool is enough for a positive test.
“As you can see, the reports are getting more and more widespread,” Stokes said Friday. “We’re now getting positive tests over half of the parish.”
Spraying has been increased in the affected areas, Stokes said.
No human cases of West Nile have been reported in the Acadia Parish to date, but Stokes is urging citizen to “be cautious and protect yourselves from mosquito bites.”
West Nile virus is most commonly transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. You can reduce your risk of being infected with WNV by using insect repellent and wearing protective clothing to prevent mosquito bites.
There are no medications to treat or vaccines to prevent WNV infection.