Aug. 23 – A 65-year-old Bernalillo County woman has died of West Nile virus during a looming severe mosquito season, health officials reported Friday.

The death is the second death from the mosquito-borne viral disease in New Mexico this year. The other death was a Sandoval County resident over the age of 65, the New Mexico Department of Health said.

“We had another bad mosquito season this year and our focus continues to be on prevention methods to protect public health,” said Dr. Mark DiMenna, director of the Albuquerque Department of Environmental Health.

“West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes will still be around until the region experiences a real, hard freeze, and we urge people to continue to take precautions against mosquito bites for the rest of the season.”

The two deaths are among six neuroinvasive cases of West Nile virus reported in New Mexico this year, the Department of Health reported. One of those is in Union County, two in Sandoval County and three in Bernalillo County.

Health officials are working to keep the mosquito population low, said Kellison Platero, Bernalillo County health officer.

“We continue to ask citizens to be aware of standing water in their neighborhoods and prevent water from accumulating in small pockets around their property,” Platero said in a written statement.

There are steps you can take to avoid mosquito bites, including:

— When outdoors, use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, lemon eucalyptus oil or IR3535 on exposed skin and clothing.

– Remove water containers where mosquitoes lay their eggs, such as old tires, and regularly change the water in birdbaths, wading pools and pet water bowls.

— Limit outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Close windows and rain barrels tightly.

— Keep windows and doors closed if they are not equipped with fly screens.