The Metro Public Health Department's Pest Management Team reports the presence of West Nile Virus in a mosquito pool collected. The trap to collect the mosquito pool had been set in Madison off Neelys Bend Road. This is the first detection of West Nile Virus of 2025, following a high level of West Nile Virus in mosquito pools collected in 2024. There have been no human cases of West Nile Virus reported in 2025.
"Keeping our community safe and healthy means monitoring mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile Virus and informing those who might be at risk", said Dr. Sanmi Areola, Director of Health at the Metro Public Health Department. "Education is a big part of our work, ensuring that we know that we all have a roles to play in reducing breeding of mosquitoes and preventing bites so that those who are at risk know what they can do to protect themselves and their families."
Reducing the breeding of mosquitoes reduces the chance of the transmission of West Nile Virus to humans and animals. The Health Department's Pest Management staff sends fliers to residences in the impacted areas with steps to protect against mosquito bites and to take steps to reduce standing water where mosquitoes can lay eggs. This is in addition to Pest Management revisiting these areas and setting additional traps, monitoring areas of standing water, and applying larvicide if mosquito larvae are present. The Health Department does not spray to kill adult mosquitoes.
MPHD started monitoring mosquito traps for the 2024 season at the end of April. In 2024, MPHD's Pest Management program caught and tested more than 39,000 mosquitoes through 32 sampling sites. By mid-October, the end of mosquito season, mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile Virus had been found at every sampling site in Davidson County.
In addition to trapping and testing mosquitos for diseases like West Nile Virus every week, MPHD's Pest Management Team offers guidance to the community on how to reduce the presence of mosquitos. Those who would like a free backyard inspection are encouraged to contact the MPHD Pest Management team at 615-340-5660 to learn about places on a property where mosquitos could easily breed and multiply.
Mosquitos often seek out standing water to lay eggs. Reducing or eliminating standing water in places like bird baths, tires, backyard toys and other places can help reduce the mosquito population at your home. Trimming overgrown vegetation can also help limit the mosquito population. Reducing the mosquito population helps reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile Virus, improving safety for the entire community.
In addition to taking steps to reduce the mosquito population, health officials also recommend taking personal protective measures to help prevent mosquito bites, including:
- Limiting time outdoors at dusk and nighttime hours when mosquitoes are most active.
- Wearing a mosquito repellent approved for use by the CDC, including products that contain DEET, Picaridin, and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
- Wearing shoes, socks, long sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors during dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most prevalent. Clothing should be light colored and made of tightly woven materials to keep mosquitoes away from the skin. Pant legs should be tucked into shoes or socks, and collars should be buttoned.
- Making sure windows and doors have screens in good repair.
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