City Finds West Nile Virus in Mosquito Collection

Recent mosquito collections from two Alexandria parks tested positive for the West Nile virus, according to the City of Alexandria’s Facebook page.

Positive collections were recorded at Angel Park, located on W. Taylor Run Parkway, and Dangerfield Island, which sits east of Potomac Yard.

Though no human cases of West Nile virus have been reported, the city is urging citizens to protect themselves from bug bites and to eliminate areas of standing water, which serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information and the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the virus spreads when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites a person on its next feeding. Mosquitoes carry the highest amount of the virus in August and September.

Few people develop severe forms of the disease, but risk factors include very young or old age, pregnancy and conditions that weaken the body’s immune system.

Alexandria has provided tips for controlling the mosquito population and for bite prevention.

The Centers for Disease Control offers tips for bite prevention and information on the West Nile virus.

Mosquito repellent can be purchased at many area drug stores, grocery stores and hardware stores. To see the Old Town Alexandria Patch Places section, click here. To see the Del Ray Patch Places section, click here.