West Nile Virus has turned up in Nashville for the first time this year, and health officials are urging residents to take precautions as mosquito season ramps up.
The Metro Public Health Department confirmed the virus was found in a mosquito pool collected near Cass Street in North Nashville, part of a trap set by the city’s Pest Management Team. It marks the first detection of West Nile Virus in Nashville for 2026.
The finding comes after a rough year in 2025, when mosquito pools across the city showed high levels of the virus and one human case was confirmed. Dr. Sanmi Areola, Metro’s director of health, is asking residents to pitch in on reducing mosquito populations around their homes and to take steps to avoid bites this summer.
When a detection like this happens, MPHD said its pest management staff go door to door in the affected area, dropping off flyers with tips on avoiding mosquito bites and clearing out standing water where mosquitoes breed. Crews also head back out to set more traps, check for standing water and treat any mosquito larvae they find with larvicide. The department noted it does not spray to kill adult mosquitoes.
There’s plenty residents can do on their own too. Health officials recommend dumping standing water from bird baths, old tires, kids’ toys and anything else sitting outside that can collect rain, along with trimming back overgrown grass and bushes where mosquitoes like to hide. MPHD also offers free backyard inspections through its Pest Management Team, and residents can schedule one by calling 615-340-5660.
For personal protection, officials suggest staying inside as much as possible during dusk and nighttime hours when mosquitoes are most active, using a CDC-approved repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants outdoors, and double-checking that window and door screens are in good shape.