West Nile virus detected in E. Oregon mosquitoes

Published 9:30 am Thursday, August 11, 2022

By JAYSON JACOBY
EO Media Group

Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus to humans.

BAKER CITY, Ore. — West Nile virus, which was recently detected for the first time in 2022 in mosquitoes in Baker County, has been confirmed in two more batches of mosquitoes.

The two latest positive tests, like the first, were in mosquitoes trapped in the Keating Valley about 15 miles east of Baker City, according to the Baker Valley Vector Control District.

That 200,000-acre area includes most of Baker, Keating and Bowen valleys.

The first batch of infected mosquitoes was trapped on July 28, and test results from a lab at Oregon State University were done on Aug. 4.

The two more recent cases were in mosquitoes from a different, but nearby, trap, said Matt Hutchinson, who manages the vector control district. Those mosquitoes were trapped on Aug. 5, and the test results arrived late on Tuesday, Aug. 9.

There have been no confirmed cases of the virus in other animals. Mosquitoes can transmit the virus to people, horses and other animals.

West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in Baker County in all but two years (2018 and 2020) over the past decade.

More Livestock

Some farm sectors asking Trump for tariffs

USDA provides progress report on bird flu, egg prices

Oregon bill expands ‘potentially dangerous’ dog definition

Reward offered for info on Oregon gray wolf killing

Print Article

Marketplace