West Nile Virus Mosquito Surveillance Program
Indiana University Southeast

Since 2002, Indiana University Southeast has been conducting a mosquito surveillance program in cooperation with the Clark County Health Department and the  Floyd County Health Department.  In 2003 the program was expanded to include the Harrison County Health Department.  The monitoring program is part of a nationwide surveillance effort.

About the Program

The Mosquito Surveillance Program at Indiana University Southeast is led by Dr. Claude D. Baker, PhD, Professor of Biology.  The program engages students from various fields of study in the trapping, collection, identification and testing of mosquitoes.  The program has now included hundreds of students in these efforts.  The program has collected and identified tens of thousands of mosquitoes representing more than 30 species from the Clark, Floyd and Harrison County area.

The focus of the study is the mapping of potential health hazards carried by mosquito vectors, particularly West Nile Virus, Saint Louis Encephalitis and Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis. Mosquitoes are collected, identified and sent to the State Department of Health for analysis, or are tested by Indiana University Southeast certified technicians.  The test used for the West Nile Virus (WNV) and Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE) is the VecTest.  The VecTest. is a rapid detection dipstick that tests for the presence of both viruses.  The VecTest provides results in just 15 minutes.

With these quick results, areas that test positive for WNV or SLE can get immediate abatement measures implemented to stop the spread of the diseases.

Publications and Presentations

There are a number of publications, reports and files that are available to download regarding the Mosquito Surveillance Program.

• WEST NILE VIRUS REPORT 2005

• WEST NILE VIRUS MOSQUITO SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM
  CLARK, FLOYD AND HARRISON COUNTIES, INDIANA 2004 an Adobe Acrobat document
  

• DISCOVERY OF AN EXOTIC ASIAN MOSQUITO (OCHLEROTATUS JAPONICUS, DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)
  IN SOUTHERN INDIANA, USA an Adobe Acrobat document
  

• DISCOVERY OF EXOTIC ASIAN MOSQUITO, OCHLEROTATUS JAPONICUS, IN SOUTHERN INDIANA, USA a Microsoft Powerpoint Presentation
  

Clark County Mosquito Collections

Clark County Indiana collection sites and information can be found on this website.  A map of collection sites shows where mosquito collections are taking place, as well as mosquito "hot spots" in Clark County.

More Information

Visit Dr. Claude D. Baker, PhD's website for the West Nile Project.