A mosquito sample in Palm Springs tested positive for West Nile virus, the first reported positive sample in the city, and mosquito control treatments for portions of Coachella Valley began Friday.

The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District collected the sample near the intersection of South Camino Real and East La Verne Way and is the 11th positive mosquito sample of West Nile virus in the Coachella Valley.

Last year, 203 samples throughout the valley tested positive for West Nile virus with no detections of St. Louis encephalitis virus, while 103 samples tested positive for mosquito-borne viruses this year, which includes 95 positive tests for St. Louis encephalitis virus.

West Nile virus spreads when a female mosquito bites an infected bird and becomes a carrier, which

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