West Nile Virus Is Being Reported In Multiple States — Here's What To Know

Experts explain the warning signs of the illness, and offer advice to protect yourself from mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illnesses.

Now’s the time to replenish your bug spray supply.

Throughout the country, mosquitoes in states such as Rhode Island, Oregon, New York, Pennsylvania and more have tested positive for West Nile virus, one of the leading mosquito-borne illnesses in the country, according to Emma Grace Crumbley, an entomologist with Mosquito Squad Plus. Towns test mosquitoes for the virus so they can consider doing community-wide spraying to prevent spread.

While this prevention method certainly helps, infected mosquitoes still get people sick; people in states such as Wisconsin, North Carolina and Florida have come down with the virus this summer. There have been 98 cases of the virus in the United States so far this year, according to the CDC. It’s a rare disease, but one that folks should be aware of.

Traditionally, the virus is more common in warmer states. “The Southeast has been pretty prominent for West Nile … Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, that type of area, but now we’re seeing cases all over,” said Crumbley. This can be blamed on “continuously changing weather patterns [and] climates,” which make it possible for mosquitoes to show up in new areas.

Many states are hotter and wetter than ever, and mosquitoes thrive in these conditions, she added, which allows for more virus spread.