Sarasota County health officials have confirmed a human case of West Nile virus, and the Department of Health in Sarasota County says it was locally acquired, meaning the virus is circulating in local mosquitoes rather than being tied to travel. A mosquito-borne illness advisory is now in effect for the county, and Sarasota County Mosquito Management Services has already conducted treatments in the affected area. Officials have not released the location of those treatments, patient details, or the exact date the case was confirmed.
The practical guidance is straightforward. Health officials are urging residents to avoid mosquito bites: use repellent, wear long sleeves and pants around dawn and dusk, and drain standing water from pots, buckets, gutters and anything else holding rain. Reporting dead birds also helps, since birds are part of how the state tracks West Nile activity.
The state health department continues monitoring for West Nile along with eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya and dengue. Suncoast residents live outdoors more than most, from the Legacy Trail to the beaches of Siesta Key and Venice, so a few small habits are worth keeping this season. What’s your go-to mosquito prevention trick?
