Mosquitoes are more than an itchy, scratchy pain in the neck—they’re also dangerous to your health, and that of your pet. The blood-sucking pests can carry West Nile Virus (WNV), a potentially serious illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), WNV is generally a seasonal epidemic. Common in the summer, it continues into the fall. Though it reaches its peak around Labor Day, higher temperatures this year may allow mosquitoes to linger—which means WNV could continue to be a danger through September and even October.