Mosquito tests positive for West Nile Virus in Merced County

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Merced County confirmed its first detection of West Nile virus this year.

That is after the Mosquito Abatement District announced this week that a mosquito collected from the city of Planada tested positive.

The agency says the detection means the virus is currently active in that local environment.

West Nile virus spreads through the bite of an infected mosquito and can cause serious illness.

The virus has been detected in 24 counties across California this year.

Fresno County is included, where they found a dead bird that tested positive back in May of this year.

So far, there has been 261 positive mosquito samples and 133 dead birds statewide.