On July 29th, the Southern Nevada Health District announced its first positive West Nile sample of the season, among mosquitoes found just south of the Harry Reid Airport.
No human cases have been reported, yet. While that means 2025’s mosquito season has been milder than last year’s, which recorded a five-year high of mosquito borne illness, there’s other worrying news on the horizon.
Namely, researchers from UNLV’s parasitology and vector biology laboratory have found evidence of pesticide resistance among local mosquitoes.
These pesticide-resistant mosquitoes are commonly found on and around golf courses in Summerlin and Henderson. And they’re appearing to survive pesticide concentrations 100 times higher than what is typically used, and for hours longer.
Guests: Louisa Messenger, assistant professor and director of the parasitology and vector biology laboratory, UNLV School of Public Health; Vivek Raman, environmental health supervisor, Southern Nevada Health District
