West Nile Virus in Utah County?
On July 11, 2025, a mosquito in Utah County tested positive for West Nile virus. That’s right—this tiny, winged vampire in the Lake Shore/North Palmyra area turned up hot with a virus nobody invited to the summer BBQ.
The Utah County Health Department sprang into action with targeted spraying, and two follow-up mosquito pools came back negative. But like any good villain in a horror movie, West Nile tends to make sequels… so we’re not putting our bug zappers away just yet.
The Infected Culprit
No need to panic (yet), but here’s the situation:
This infected mosquito was caught in a routine surveillance trap—basically a mosquito group chat, but in real life.
It’s part of the Culex family, which sounds fancy but really just means they like biting people after dark and possibly spreading viruses.
The health department’s fast response likely squashed this threat before it got out of hand, but it’s a big reminder that mosquito season is in full swing, and these pests aren’t messing around.
What Even Is West Nile Virus?
In short? It’s a virus mosquitoes carry, and they’re way too generous with it.
80% of people who get it never know it. (Lucky.)
Around 20% get flu-like symptoms: fever, body aches, nausea, and a general “I feel gross” vibe.
Less than 1% get severe stuff like meningitis or encephalitis. That’s where things go from “ugh” to “uh-oh.”
Why Pest Control Is Your Summer MVP
Here’s the thing: Total Annihilation Pest Control isn’t just a cool name. We actually do annihilate pests. And mosquitoes with viruses? Yeah, those go straight to the top of our hit list.
What We Are Doing:
Rapid-response spraying hits infected zones fast (like the one in Lake Shore).
We use integrated pest management, which is a fancy way of saying “we fight mosquitoes at every stage of their evil little lives.”
What YOU Can Do (a.k.a. Your Side of the Deal):
Dump standing water. Buckets, flowerpots, old tires—if it holds water, it holds danger.
Use EPA-approved repellents like DEET or picaridin.
Dress like a vampire hunter: long sleeves, long pants, especially at dusk.
Fix those window screens. We’re looking at you, garage side door.
Mosquitoes breed in tiny puddles and party all night. Don’t give them the venue.
No Need to Freak Out—But Definitely Don’t Chill
This isn’t time to panic, but it is time to act like you’ve got the high ground in the war on bugs. With one positive mosquito in the area, the smart move is to call in reinforcements—us—and take back your backyard.
Let’s be honest: nobody wants to spend their summer scratching bites, wearing long sleeves in 95° heat, or Googling “what does West Nile feel like.”
