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  In the summer of 2001, West Nile virus (WN) arrived in Florida. Approximately 12 humans contracted the virus, along with thousands of birds and hundreds of horses. Unfortunately, WN is here to stay in Florida. It has joined ranks with SLE (Saint Louis Encephalitis) and EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis). Therefore, it is necessary for health departments and mosquito control districts to keep a close eye on this disease.
Since the summer of 2001, the Collier Mosquito Control District (CMCD) has been routinely collecting mosquitoes from around the county and testing them for the presence of WN virus using various methods.
Several years ago, the CMCD began using the RAMP (Rapid Analyte Measurement Platform) system to test mosquitoes for WN virus. The RAMP is a rapid diagnostic testing system that provides results in minutes, thus allowing the CMCD to quickly know if there are mosquitoes in the District carrying WN virus and prepare control treatments in a timely manner.
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