Local health officials are on alert after some donated blood in Washington County and a bird in Chippewa County have tested positive for West Nile Virus.
Rock County Public Health Department Environmental Health Specialist Diana Grenawalt says the Health Department traps mosquitos and sends them for testing on a weekly basis, and so far this year non of them have tested positive for West Nile Virus.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention there have been 12 human cases of West Nile Virus in Rock County between 1999 and 2023.
Grenawalt says the Health Department is also monitoring for Triple E – another disease spread by mosquitos.
Grenawalt recommends that anyone spending time outdoors take care to cover exposed skin and wear insect repellent.
