"We have found West Nile virus earlier than we ever have before," Scott Meador from the Tulsa Health Department said. KRMG news has learned traps at 101st and Garnett, Apache and Lewis, and 21st and Sheridan all tested positive for the virus.
A soggy spring and lots of standing water is blamed for traps containing as many as 400 mosquitos. "We've been greatly surprised by the high numbers," Meador added. The health department recommends several ways to protect yourself from problems.
Heavy rain has caused an increase of mosquitos throughout Green Country.
So far Oklahoma has 2 cases of West Nile in 2015.
- Wear long clothing
- Use repellant with DEET
- Eliminate standing water
Last year there were 18 cases of West Nile in Oklahoma, Broken Arrow's Richard Boltinghouse was one of them. "It's amazing how something so insignificant can stop you dead in your tracks," he told us. Boltinghouse suffered from tremors, fever, and prolonged weakness when he had West Nile. Now, he takes extra precautions. "Bug zapper in the back and we have citronella candles and I have a whole arsenal of anti-bug repellant," he explained.
More here.