A pool of mosquitoes with West Nile Virus has been discovered in the northeast part of Mishawaka.

As of right now, there are no human cases in the county, but health leaders expect West Nile activity to increase from now until the first hard frost.

The St. Joseph County Department of Health encourages you to take the following steps to protect you and your family from mosquitoes:

• Avoid being outdoors during prime mosquito biting times – dusk to dawn – when possible.
• Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-methane-diol to clothes and exposed skin.
• Cover exposed skin by wearing a hat, long sleeves and long pants in places where mosquitoes are especially active, such as wooded areas.
• Treat clothing and outdoor gear with 0.5% permethrin if camping or spending extended periods of time outdoors.
• Make sure all windows and doors have screens, and that all screens are in good repair.
• Reduce mosquito breeding on and around your property.

To reduce mosquito breeding, homeowners can take these actions:

• Get rid of old tires, tin cans, or other containers that can hold water. Even a small bucket that has stagnant water in it for seven days can become home to up to 1,000 mosquitoes.
• Tip bird baths, pet bowls, flowerpots, and other water-holding containers weekly and refill with clean water.
• Repair failed septic systems.
• Keep rain barrels covered with wire mesh smaller than adult mosquitoes.
• Keep grass cut short and shrubbery trimmed.
• Clean roof gutters (roof gutters are easily overlooked but can produce millions of mosquitoes each season).
• Flush ornamental fountains weekly and aerate ornamental pools or stock them with top-feeding minnows.
• Keep swimming pools cleaned and chlorinated.
• Drain and fill stagnant pools, puddles, ditches, or swampy places around the home and property