West Nile confirmed in Prowers County

KRDO NewsChannel 13 has confirmed that mosquitoes have tested positive for the West Nile virus in Prowers County.

Keith Siemsen, the Manager of Environmental Health in Prowers County, says the state collected mosquitoes on August 26th and 27th for testing. Test results have returned positive for the virus.

The mosquitoes were collected at sights around the Lamar area, according to Siemsen. He says that because of the drought there is an extremely low number of mosquitoes, but even so they were able to find the virus.

One person died of West Nile virus in 2010 in Prowers County.

West Nile Virus is carried by certain birds and transmitted to people by bites from mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. To protect from the virus, experts recommend you minimize insect breeding sites in your yard and use insect repellent.