Summer mosquito activity has prompted Oregon Health Authority to warn residents and visitors to avoid bites and cut exposure to West Nile virus, the state’s most common mosquito-borne disease.
West Nile-carrying mosquitoes are detected in Oregon every year, mainly in eastern and southern areas, and public health teams track where the virus is circulating with local vector control districts.
About 1 in 5 infected people develop fever and flu-like symptoms, while adults over 50, immunocompromised people and those with underlying conditions face higher risk of severe neurological illness.
OHA urged people to drain standing water weekly, clear gutters and debris, use EPA-registered repellent, wear long sleeves and limit outdoor activity at dawn and dusk.