A confirmed batch of mosquitoes containing the West Nile Virus was discovered in Godfrey, IL, on Tuesday.

Almost a year to the date, St. Louis County Department of Health confirmed mosquitoes had tested positive for West Nile Virus in St. Louis County.

At that time, the health department said mosquitoes in cities near Hazelwood as close as Florissant tested positive for the virus, but as summer came to a close, no cases were discovered in Hazelwood.

The Mosquito Squad has advice on how to control mosquitoes in your yard this summer.

5Ts to Take Back Your Yard from Mosquitoes:

1. Tip. Reduce standing water. Check children’s sandboxes, wagons or plastic toys; downspouts, plant saucers and dog bowls. Other hot spots: gutters, and flat roofs.
2. Toss. Remove excess grass, leaves, firewood and clippings from yards.
3. Turn. Turn over larger yard items that could hold water like children’s plastic toys.
4. Remove Tarps. If tarps stretched over firewood piles, boats or sports equipment aren’t taut, they’re holding water.
5. Treat. Utilize a mosquito elimination barrier treatment around the home and yard. Using a barrier treatment at home reduces the need for using DEET-containing bug spray on the body. Mosquito Squad’s eliminates up to 90% of the mosquitoes and ticks on a property.

For more information on mosquito prevention, contact the County Vector Control office at 314-727-3097 or visit the St. Louis County Department of Health Department’s website.

The Health Department is also routinely collecting mosquito samples for testing to determine areas where control efforts need to be focused.

For more information call 314-615-4-BUG (615-4284) for the St. Louis County nightly mosquito-spraying schedule.

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