Mosquitoes in Franklin County test positive for West Nile

PASCO, Wash.-- The Franklin County Mosquito Control District recently found some mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile Virus.

The pool of mosquitoes was collected in the Basin City area.

No human cases of West Nile have been reported in Benton or Franklin Counties according to the Benton Franklin Health District.

FCMCD Director David Dorsett told Newsradio 610 KONA that the overall numbers of mosquitoes are slowly declining, thanks to cooler temperatures, however, the mosquito that is known for carrying West Nile can survive late into the fall.

Dorsett said the agency will continue distributing larvicide granules through October. The granules are deposited via drone into ponds and marshes to prevent hatched mosquito larvae from developing into biting adults.

You're encouraged to continue wearing mosquito repellent while you're outside at dusk and dawn, and to regularly empty out any containers on your property that collects water.