Mosquitoes from St. Albans City have tested positive for West Nile virus, the Vermont Department of Health announced.
The mosquitoes were collected on July 29.
West Nile was in Vermont in 2013 as well, with 28 of 1,328 testing pools showing positive results for the virus. One human in Lamoille came down with West Nile last year, but recovered.
The Department of Health said West Nile symptoms are usually mild, and about 1 percent of infected people develop severe illnesses that can be fatal.
Some tips from the department on avoiding mosquito-borne illnesses:
- Wear long sleeves and pants and avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are active.
- Reduce mosquito breeding habitats by getting rid of standing water, and by draining areas where water can pool such as rain gutters, wading pools, and old tires.
- Use repellents containing no more than 30 percent DEET for adults and no more than 10 percent for children age 3 and older.
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
