Health officials in Nashville are urging residents to take precautions after West Nile virus was detected in mosquitoes for the first time this year.

The Metro Public Health Department announced that the virus was found in a mosquito pool collected near Cass Street in North Nashville, marking the city’s earliest positive sample of 2026 and the first detection of the season.

Officials said the finding follows elevated West Nile virus activity in 2025 when one human case was reported.

Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of health at the Metro Public Health Department, said in a statement that community involvement is key to prevention. “We can all play a role in reducing the presence of mosquitoes in our community, making our outdoor areas both more pleasant and safer from mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus,” Dr. Areola told Fox 17.

Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement

Health staff are educating residents in the affected area and encouraging everyone to take steps to protect themselves and their families from mosquito exposure this summer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, West Nile virus remains the leading mosquito-borne disease in the United States. Most infected people do not develop symptoms, while about one in five experience fever, headaches, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash.

The CDC reports that fewer than one percent of infections progress to serious neurological illness that can impact the brain or spinal cord, primarily affecting older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems.

Officials emphasized that a positive mosquito sample does not necessarily indicate human infections in the area, but it does confirm that the virus is present locally.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

The department’s mosquito control teams are responding by distributing educational flyers in the neighborhood, expanding mosquito trapping efforts, monitoring standing water, and applying larvicide where appropriate. Officials noted that insecticides targeting adult mosquitoes are not being used.

Residents can contact the Metro Public Health Department’s Pest Management team to schedule a free backyard inspection to identify potential breeding areas.

To reduce risk, officials advise removing standing water from bird baths, buckets, flowerpots, tires, and toys, since mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water. Trimming overgrown vegetation around homes can further limit mosquito activity.

The department recommends wearing long sleeves and pants during peak mosquito hours at dusk and dawn, using EPA-approved repellents with DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, and ensuring that window and door screens are properly maintained.

Officials stated that community-wide action to reduce mosquito breeding sites can help lower the risk of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses across Nashville.

Fox News contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier noted that mosquito activity tends to rise with warmer weather, reinforcing the importance of taking preventive measures during mosquito season.

The detection serves as both a reminder and an early warning for residents to remain vigilant as testing and prevention activities continue throughout the summer.