Riverside County

Mosquitoes Test Positive For West Nile Near Murrieta

Officials urged area residents to take precautions against contact with the insects and to take steps to minimize conditions that allow them to breed.

Mosquitoes from several Inland Empire areas have tested positive for the West Nile Virus, officials said Friday.

Insects collected from Murrieta, Temecula and Hemet tested positive for the virus, the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health said in a statement.

It is not unusual for mosquitoes in Riverside County to test positive for the virus during the summer months, but the agency urged area residents to take precautions against contact with the insects and to take steps to minimize conditions that allow them to breed.

The agency will step-up control and surveillance efforts to combat any potential infections.

Residents are urged to:

  • Use insect repellent or lemon eucalyptus oil on children under the age of three to deter mosquito bites.
  • Be aware and avoid outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours, which are generally dawn and dusk.
  • Wear long sleeves and pants to protect skin when outdoors.
  • Drain standing water, empty unused flower pots and pools.
  • Keep tight-fitting screens closed.

To report a mosquito problem in the area, call Riverside County Vector Control at 951-766-9454. 

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