MORROW COUNTY — West Nile virus, which is spread by mosquitoes, has been detected in six additional mosquito pools captured Wednesday, Aug. 11, from various testing sites in the rural areas of Boardman and Irrigon, according to a press release from Oregon State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

The new cases brings the total number of West Nile positive pools to 13, the release said.

“All affected areas were treated with our truck mounted aerosol units and retrapped to collect mosquito pools,” Greg Barron, manager of control district, said in a press release. “Mosquito pools will be shipped for testing at the Oregon State University Diagnostic Laboratory on Aug. 18. The district is preparing for an aerial spray mission on the night of Aug. 22.”

The West Nile virus was first detected in seven mosquito pools collected on the night of Aug. 3. The pools were collected in the east rural Boardman area.

“We are advising people in Morrow County to take precautions against mosquitoes to avoid the risk of infection, including preventing mosquito bites,” Barron said. “West Nile virus is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.”