Pollution crews fight as mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus multiply in Utah

ABUNDANT – Some pollution control teams are describing 2021 as Utah’s worst mosquito season on record as they struggled to repel the pests this summer.

Crews said the high temperatures were causing mosquitoes to multiply.

Mosquitoes that breed in flood waters are actually very low, as you would expect, but those that breed in existing wetlands do thrive. And to make matters worse, they are the type who carry West Nile virus.

At the southwest end of Davis County, reduction technician Trevor Larsen scanned the wetlands for water, but had little success.

“Everything is dry,” he said.

But in areas with standing water, mosquitoes were doing very well.

Sorry, but the drought doesn’t give us any respite from mosquitoes; at least not the kind that carries West Nile virus. Why there are so many of them and why the mosquito reduction in Davis County is particularly stretched this year. @ KSL5TV at 18 hours. pic.twitter.com/eQuIwUB8QI

– Mike Anderson (@mikeandersonKSL) July 12, 2021

“We’re seeing numbers now as we normally would in our prime – late July, first part of August,” said Gary Hatch, Davis County District Mosquito Control Director.

Hatch said it could be an early peak or a sign that a much larger peak will reach in a few weeks.

“When the heat started to kick in in May, we were very worried and actually started to see their numbers soar,” he said.

Many of their traps have come full.

“These are the Culex tarsalis. They are carriers of West Nile virus,” Hatch said.

That’s where the biggest concern comes from and that’s why their lab started testing early on.

“We have detected West Nile virus earlier than ever,” Hatch said.

It could mean more cases of the disease, but is there another hurdle to overcome this year as well. Technicians like Larsen did double duty. Like everywhere else, Hatch is having a hard time hiring help for the summer.

They tried to get by with about half the staff they wanted.

“This is by far the toughest year we’ve had – with the heat, the number of mosquitoes we see and the lack of staff we have,” said Hatch, who works in Davis County. for 27 years.

He said everyone will need to be extra vigilant outside, using repellant, and if we can take it, long sleeves and pants.

These mosquitoes, in particular, bite after sunset, but Hatch said they were aggressive.

And as always, he said to try to avoid having standing water around your house.

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Mike Anderson