Summer in La Porte County just got a little more unsettling. The La Porte County Health Department confirmed this week that a pool of mosquitoes trapped in the county has tested positive for West Nile virus. The sample was collected on June 30 and later verified by state laboratory testing. County officials are urging residents to scour their yards for standing water and to be extra cautious around dawn and dusk, when the mosquitoes that most often carry the virus tend to be on the hunt.
According to a health department statement, the positive mosquito pool was confirmed by the Indiana State Department of Health, as reported by Hometown News Now. The announcement explained that the mosquito species most likely to transmit West Nile prefers containers like birdbaths, clogged gutters and empty flower pots, and it advised residents to empty or scrub those items regularly. For local questions, the department directed residents to contact Kristine Happel Collin at (219) 326-6808 ext. 2200.
What West Nile Can Do
Most people infected with West Nile virus never develop symptoms, but about one in five may experience a fever and other flu-like illness, and a very small fraction can develop serious neurologic disease that requires hospitalization. Older adults and people with certain chronic medical conditions face the highest risk of severe infection. These figures and symptom guidance come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Prevention: How To Reduce Your Risk
State and local officials say the best defense is still cutting mosquito habitat and avoiding bites. They recommend emptying standing water at least once a week, cleaning birdbaths and wading pools, clearing clogged gutters, turning over buckets and storing or discarding old tires. When outside at dawn or dusk, they advise using EPA-registered repellents and wearing long sleeves and pants. The Indiana Department of Health and county staff offer additional tips and resources on their websites.
How The County Tracks Mosquitoes
La Porte County’s environmental health team conducts routine mosquito surveillance, setting traps during the summer and sending collected mosquito pools to the state laboratory for testing, the county explains. That monitoring helps officials spot virus activity early and shape public guidance. For more about the county’s vector program and how to report mosquito problems, residents can check the La Porte County Health Department’s insect and vector control page.
For statewide updates and maps of mosquito activity, residents are directed to Indiana mosquito-borne resources linked from the state health site. Anyone with questions about local testing or who needs to report a mosquito issue can contact the La Porte County Health Department using the information provided in its statement, including Kristine Happel Collin’s number. Officials emphasize that simple, routine yard work to eliminate standing water remains the most effective way to lower West Nile risk this summer.
