For those of us who hate mosquitoes (which means everybody), this is troubling news:

The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness says more mosquitoes are testing positive for West Nile virus around Jefferson County.

The infected mosquitoes have been located in several city neighborhoods, including Old Louisville, Irish Hill, California, Iroquois and Churchill Downs, officials said July 22. This follows mosquitoes testing positive for the virus in the Tyler Park and Highlands neighborhoods earlier this month.

Mosquito fogging is scheduled in the impacted areas July 23 and July 24 if weather permits to help decrease the insect population and risk for infection. It will take place during the early morning and early evening hours using a machine that disperses an insecticide called Zenivex, which officials say is very low in toxicity and odor.

I’m not overreacting when I say this is bad:

I had to go to the hospital once because of a mosquito but for a stupid reason. One night, decades ago in Staten Island, a mosquito buzzed in my ear. I immediately grabbed a folded-up magazine and chased it through a room. I saw it high up on a wall and climbed on a work desk, which immediately collapsed, putting a gash in my foot. I drove myself to the emergency room, where I waited for hours. By the time a doctor looked at me, the bleeding had stopped, so I ended up with a bandage and a tetanus shot.

I’m the kind of person who wouldn’t kill a fly, or a bee, or a wasp (if there’s one in the house, I get a glass and a sheet of paper, capture it, open the door or window and let it out).

But if a hear a mosquito, I’m immediately in DEFCON 1.

What can happen if you’re bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus?

No symptoms in most people. Most people (8 out of 10) infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms.

Febrile illness (fever) in some people. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with febrile illness due to West Nile virus recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.

Serious symptoms in a few people. About 1 in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).

• Symptoms of severe illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.
• Severe illness can occur in people of any age. However, older people are at greater risk for severe illness if they are infected. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk.
• Recovery from severe illness might take several weeks or months. Some effects might be permanent.
• About 1 out of 10 people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system die.

This can be pretty bad, but it isn’t even the worst disease a mosquito can spread.

There is no reason for mosquitos to exist, other than to kill humans.