7 West Nile Cases Confirmed in North Louisiana

Caddo Reports 4 West Nile Cases; Region 7 Total Rises to 7

Louisiana public health officials confirm seven human West Nile virus cases across Northwest Louisiana’s Region 7, including four in Caddo Parish. Caddo’s tally includes three neuroinvasive cases and one fever case, alongside 22 confirmed West Nile–positive mosquito samples collected locally.

Kelvin Samuel, Director of Caddo Parish Animal and Mosquito Control told KEEL News on Monday,  "We have 22 positives… and right now for us, human cases, we have four. We have three NID, best of neuro-invasive, and we have the one fever”

Where the Caddo Parish Numbers Stand

Caddo Parish reports four human infections this season, three classified as neuro-invasive disease and one as West Nile fever. Region 7’s total sits at seven cases, made up of four neuro-invasive and three fever cases. State surveillance notes that only a small fraction of infections become neuro-invasive and that many infections are never tested or reported.

Mosquito Activity and Caddo Parish Response

Samuel described an around-the-clock push: “Every day we have the eight trucks that are constantly on the road. We’re larviciding, adulticiding… doing all these different measures to prevent any West Nile positive virus cases.” He added that crews “aggressively spray and aggressively trap” once an area is flagged.

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Operations will continue into cooler weather. “We’re also constantly spraying until… 55 degrees or lower for five consecutive days,” Samuel said, noting mosquitoes shift into a semi-hibernating stage in wood and tree hollows, which still requires vigilance.

How Testing Works Locally

Caddo relies on gravid traps and state lab testing. “It looks like a hat on top of a cooler… it has dry ice. We mix up some old nasty water… They get inside this little trap. We send them to our lab… identify species… and the lab tests it,” Samuel explained. "Positive pools then trigger targeted spraying and more trapping." 

What Caddo Parish Residents Can Do

Prevention at home still matters. “People can help us by dumping old containers… check your water gutters… old tires… pools without chlorine,” Samuel said. Residents can pick up BTI granules at 1500 Monty Street to stop larvae before they mature. To request spraying, call 318-226-6624 or submit a request at the parish website.