ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. – The St. Joseph County Health Department is advising everyone to be cautious regarding ticks and mosquitoes in the Michiana area potentially carrying West Nile virus.

The summer months are a time of year when there is an increased presence of mosquitoes carrying the virus, and officials say that this is due to clean water areas becoming stagnant.

And along with mosquitoes, tacks are also of concern.

Of the 91 adult ticks tested in the county from 2017 to 2018, more than 40 percent were positive for Lyme disease, according to officials.

“Especially for ticks, wearing long sleeves, wearing a repellent and having somebody check you for ticks after you’ve already checked to make sure you don’t have any on you,” Brett Davis said, the Assistant Director of Environmental Health.

Although they have been detected in Elkhart County, officials have yet to detect mosquitoes carrying West Nile in St. Joseph County.