With cases of West Nile Virus in Escambia County, the Santa Rosa
County Health Department is encouraging residents to take
precautions to avoid mosquito-borne illnesses. West Nile Virus
(WNV) is a potentially serious disease, primarily transmitted by
infected mosquitoes. Since January of this year, 16 confirmed
cases of WNV have been reported throughout the state of Florida.
Although no cases have been reported in Santa Rosa County,
neighboring counties are seeing cases, and sentinel monitoring
indicates a rise in the number of mosquitoes carrying the virus.
To reduce the chance of becoming infected with the virus, the
health Department encourages residents to take precautions to
avoid being bitten by mosquitoes that may be carrying WNV, as
well as other illnesses. Remove standing water. Removing
standing water sources is one of the easiest ways to prevent
mosquitoes from breeding. Outdoor yard items such as pets' water
dishes, bird baths and flower pots can collect water and provide
ideal places for mosquito