LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — West Nile virus has been confirmed in 14 mosquito pools across the Las Vegas valley this season, and Clark County has already recorded its first human case of the year.
Now, UNLV researchers are taking their work out of the lab and into private backyards to find out why.
UNLV researcher Trishnan Wickramasinghe is using 18 private backyards across the valley as part of a new study.
“Our main aim is to figure out how they are surviving in Las Vegas and thriving and spreading disease in Clark County,” Wickramasinghe said.
From the lab to the backyard
Wickramasinghe normally studies mosquitoes collected from across the valley. After receiving complaints from homeowners about mosquitoes in their yards, he decided to bring the research directly to residents.
“Even in my house, my son can’t go outside without mosquitoes, and he gets bitten all the time,” Wickramasinghe said.
He uses a trap that mimics the scent of human sweat to lure mosquitoes in. Once collected, the samples go directly to the lab.
“I’m going to freeze them in a minus-80-degree freezer so that I can retain the genetic information,” Wickramasinghe said.
Residents report problems in their yards
Asma Tahair is one of the valley residents who contacted the lab.
“I was having a lot of problems. I do a lot of gardening. One evening I could see there were a lot of mosquito bites on my leg. I mean too much,” Tahair said.
The research team also visited the 89121 zip code, where the Southern Nevada Health District recently confirmed West Nile virus-positive pools. Homeowner Amanda Morgan said the mosquito problem has been ongoing.
“Last year it was so bad they were chasing us from our backyard,” Morgan said.
Testing for multiple viruses
At the UNLV lab, the collected mosquitoes will be tested not only for West Nile virus, but for other viruses as well. The study runs through November.
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