Health officials are alerting the public to the presence of West Nile virus in mosquitoes trapped near Shaffer's Access to the East Side Recreation Area of Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge. The test was done over the weekend.

Area residents and refuge visitors can avoid mosquito bites by covering exposed skin, wearing mosquito repellant containing DEET and avoiding outside activity between the hours of sunset and sunrise. Property owners can prevent exposure by eliminating standing water and not over-irrigating.

The hot weather over the past week or two has resulted in an increase in the population of the species of mosquito that is one of the primary vectors of West Nile Virus, according to the Canyon County Mosquito Abatement District.

The district will continue mosquito abatement activity with aerial applications of the mosquito larvae control compounds containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) on designated areas of Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge. Abatement will begin Monday night and continue through Wednesday in neighborhoods south of Greenhurst Road in Nampa to South Powerline Road and along Lakeshore Drive to Dearborne Road.