Soccer practices and games have been temporarily halted at a Capital High School field after a mosquito carrying the West Nile virus was found in a nearby wetlands area.

The Kanawha County school system's pesticide contractor started to treat the area Tuesday. Treatments will continue every two weeks for the next several months. 

"We're keeping children away from the area," said Terry Hollandsworth, administrative assistant for maintenance for Kanawha County Schools. "We're taking appropriate precautions."

Hollandsworth said workers are putting tablets in the swampy area to kill mosquito larvae. The plan was approved by the state Division of Natural Resources, he said.

The contractor already sprays pesticide over the wetlands area each spring.

"We know we have a problem with it," Hollandsworth said. "We'd like to find a permanent solution."

Hollandsworth was unsure when the high school soccer field would reopen.

"Right now, we're staying away from the area until we get more information," he said. 

Health Department officials said West Nile virus appears to be widespread in most areas of Kanawha County.

The Kanawha County school system's pesticide contractor started to treat the area Tuesday. Treatments will continue every two weeks for the next several months. 

"We're keeping children away from the area," said Terry Hollandsworth, administrative assistant for maintenance for Kanawha County Schools. "We're taking appropriate precautions."

Hollandsworth said workers are putting tablets in the swampy area to kill mosquito larvae. The plan was approved by the state Division of Natural Resources, he said.

The contractor already sprays pesticide over the wetlands area each spring.

"We know we have a problem with it," Hollandsworth said. "We'd like to find a permanent solution."

Hollandsworth was unsure when the high school soccer field would reopen.

"Right now, we're staying away from the area until we get more information," he said. 

Health Department officials said West Nile virus appears to be widespread in most areas of Kanawha County.

In July, a West Nile-infected mosquito was identified in the Lower Falls area of St. Albans. A month early, another infected mosquito was found in the Big Bend area of Tornado.

West Nile virus symptoms include unexplained fevers, headaches and seizures. The virus is most dangerous to people older than 50.

The first human cases of West Nile in West Virginia were reported in Putnam and Wood counties in 2002.

Kanawha County's latest reported human case was in August 2006, when a Mink Shoals man contracted the virus.

The Health Department is urging people to remove mosquito-breeding sites from their property. The blood-sucking insects often breed in stagnant water left in buckets, watering cans, rimless tires, unused swimming pools, birdbaths and flowerpots.

Even small amounts of water attract mosquitoes.

To avoid insect bites, people should use repellants that contain DEET, and wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outside, health officials said.

Reach Eric Eyre at erice...@wvgazette.com or 348-4869.