West Nile detected in KY mosquitoes. Here’s where and what to do to protect yourself

West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in Kentucky.

Mosquito fogging, a preventative measure to decrease infection and the bug’s population, will take place later this week in Louisville’s Tyler Park neighborhood and the Highlands area surrounding it.

The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness said Tuesday it found mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus in a surveillance trap. There have been no confirmed human cases of West Nile in Jefferson County, the department said.

Louisville’s Chief Health Strategist Connie Mendel said in a news release, “This is about the time of year we typically see mosquitoes test positive for West Nile. No matter what ZIP code you live in, please take precautions to avoid being bitten.”

Those infected with West Nile generally show no or relatively mild symptoms.

Less than 1% of infected people develop a serious illness, the health department says, but serious cases can still occur.

People over 60 are more likely to contract a severe disease as a result of being infected with the virus as are people with medical conditions like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease or who are organ transplant recipients.

In its announcement of detection of the virus and fogging in the area, the Louisville health department gives the following guidance —

Avoid mosquito bites by:

• Using insect repellent, especially ones with DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol, all of which typically provide longer-lasting protection.
• Wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outside. Mosquitoes can bite through thin clothing, so spraying them with repellent will give extra protection, but it’s not recommended to put bug spray on your skin and then wear full-coverage clothing.
• Taking extra precaution during peak mosquito-biting hours early in the morning and around dusk.

Prevent mosquito breeding grounds by:

• Emptying water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires and drain birdbaths regularly.
• Installing or repairing window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.

This story was originally published July 8, 2025 at 1:23 PM.

Piper Hansen

Lexington Herald-Leader

502-648-6715

Piper Hansen is a local business and regional economic development reporter at the Lexington Herald-Leader. She previously covered similar topics and housing in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Before that, Hansen wrote about state government and politics in Arizona.