LOUISVILLE — Health departments in Kentucky are bracing for what could be the worst mosquito infestation in years — which allows for the possibility of the re-emergence of the West Nile virus.

        The warm, wet weather this winter and spring has created ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed, causing serious concern among public health officials.

        “It's not a good sign that we've got a lot of water out there,” said Michael Sinsko, a health department official. “There's going to be a substantial mosquito population.”

        West Nile virus — which is potentially fatal and is transmitted by mosquitoes — made its first appearance in the area last August, causing the deaths of several horses and dozens of birds.

        So far no humans in the region have contracted the disease, which in the last three years has been responsible for the deaths of 18 people in the eastern United States.

        “The birds — that's the first indicator the problem is coming,” said Richard Wellinghurst, the environmental health program coordinator in Jefferson County. “The next threat is the human threat — and that's where we're going. If we don't keep really good control of it, we're going to be facing problems in terms of humans coming down with it.”

        West Nile virus, which began its U.S. invasion in 1999, has spread rapidly down the East Coast and into the Midwest.

        Health departments across the region have created programs to kill mosquito larvae and monitor insects and animals for the disease.

        In addition, pamphlets about mosquito control have been printed to tell residents to clean gutters, use repellant, and get rid of outdoor containers or tires that might hold standing water.

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