Local health department warns of West Nile Virus. What you need to know.

Local health officials said they have found mosquitoes in Monroe County that have tested positive for West Nile Virus. Here’s what you need to know.

What is West Nile virus?

West Nile Virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Humans become infected by West Nile virus through the bite of a female mosquito. Mosquitoes become vectors for the disease after first biting an infected bird. The virus is not spread between humans.

Why is West Nile an issue in Monroe County this year?

The Monroe County Health Department has a mosquito surveillance program and recently collected a sample from one pool of mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile Virus. The department has reported the same findi