There are more pregnant women in the United States with the Zika virus than originally believed, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The CDC released a report Friday saying the number has tripled, going from 48 to 157. The report also shows that there are 122 pregnant women with Zika in U.S. territories.
It's not known if that increase is because there are more pregnant women with Zika or if officials are tracking the virus differently.
The species of mosquito that's associated with Zika hasn't yet gotten a foothold in Kern County, and local experts are asking that the public help them keep it that way.
"It reemphasizes the whole point of the need to have to take extra precaution to prevent yourself from being exposed," said Dr. Claudia Jonah from Kern Public Health.
And now that summer is right around the corner, mosquito season is in full swing.
"Mosquitoes reproduce much more quickly when it's hot weather," she said.
Perhaps most frightening is the fact that mosquitoes often prefer to breed in standing water that can be found in your yard.
"A backyard is even better because this [a pond] is a jungle to them," said Donald Sangster, a foreman with the Kern Mosquito Control District.
"It's got all kinds of predators and pathogens. It is good for them, but not nearly as good as a swimming pool that's not being taken care of or a five-gallon bucket of water."
Sangster is the foreman for roughly a third of metropolitan Bakersfield, and he gets hundreds of calls a season about pools and other bodies of water on people's property.
He or a member of his team can take care of any mosquito problems on your property for free.
If you think you have mosquito problems call - Kern Mosquito & Vector Control - 661-589-2744.
