Nashville Detects West Nile Virus in Mosquitoes for First Time in 2026
Public health officials in Nashville confirmed the presence of West Nile virus in a mosquito sample collected near Cass Street, urging residents to eliminate standing water and use EPA-approved repellents.
The Metro Public Health Department announced that a mosquito pool collected near Cass Street in North Nashville tested positive for West Nile virus, marking the first detection of the virus in the city for 2026 and the earliest positive sample of the season. The finding follows elevated virus activity in mosquito pools reported in 2025, when a single human case was confirmed.
"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," said Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of health at the department.
"As our team educates those in the area where West Nile virus was found, we hope the rest of our community does what they can to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes this summer," Areola added.
The department is distributing educational flyers, increasing mosquito trapping, monitoring standing water and applying larvicide where needed, but it does not spray insecticide for adult mosquitoes. Residents may request a free backyard inspection to identify breeding sites.
Health officials advise eliminating standing water in bird baths, flowerpots, buckets, tires, toys and other containers, and trimming overgrown vegetation. To prevent bites, they recommend EPA-approved repellents containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, wearing long sleeves and pants during dusk and dawn, and ensuring window and door screens are intact.
