City Ready To Combat Mosquito Infestation

LAS CRUCES, NM – Mosquitoes in the Las Cruces area have tested positive for West Nile virus.

City officials tell ABC-7 they are taking preventative steps to deal with infestations of infected mosquitos and bugs. The city has begun fogging areas of standing water after West Nile positive mosquitos turned up earlier this week in the Alameda District.

Due to the large volume of each one of the mosquito breeding ground, the virus can spread quickly, officials say. According to them, mosquito larvae can form in any kind of standing water, including dog bowls, water bottles and even moisture found in garbage containers.

City officials are holding all property owners responsible for clearing out standing water in their property. Homeowners who fail to get rid of mosquito breeding grounds will be fined, they say. Such enforcement methods have led to a drop in West Nile cases in recent years.

Chris Minnick, with the New Mexico Department of Health, tells ABC-7 residents should always be cautious of potentially dangerous bugs during the hot summer weather. “The city has pinpointed the areas were people need to be extra cautious but that doesn’t mean other people in the city or county can relax,” he said.