HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Nearly a month after the first positive sample of West Nile Virus in a mosquito for the year was reported in Harris County, positive samples have spiked.
Harris County Public Health says as of Tuesday evening, the current number of positive samples of the virus collected in the county stands at 132.
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Officials say these public samples come from across the county, some from inside the City of Houston all the way out to Tomball.
No human cases have been confirmed so far in 2024.
Officials believe heavy rains as well as the heat has contributed to the spike in positive samples collected by the county.
Mosquitos are around throughout the year; however, they are more prevalent during the warmer months, and typically most active from June through October. Out of the 56 species of mosquitoes found in our area, only a handful transmit diseases such as West Nile Virus, Chikungunya, Dengue and Zika.
Most people who are infected with West Nile Virus show no or only mild symptoms such as: low grade fever and headache. More severe signs and symptoms can include high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, encephalitis, and rarely, death. If you think you have been infected with West Nile Virus, contact your health care provider.
Residents should remember the three T’s when it comes to mosquito control.
Tip
Follow these simple tips to prevent mosquito breeding sites around your home, especially right after a weather event:
- Tip or empty standing water from pet bowls, flowerpots, tires, buckets and other containers.
- If you have a birdbath, change its water every three to five days.
Toss
Mosquitoes are also able to breed in small spots where stagnant water might be hidden from the human eye. Practice the following tips to reduce mosquito breeding in those covered spots:
- Toss out debris, trash, and other unwanted items around your home.
- Clean out clogged rain gutters.
Keep outdoor trash bins closed and avoid overfilling them.
- Do not sweep lawn clippings, leaves, or litter into storm drains as this will prevent water from flowing, creating ideal mosquito-breeding sites.
- Minimize opportunities for standing water to accumulate by emptying stagnant water from flowers pots, buckets, tires, or any other water-collecting objects.
Take action
There are also several ways to take action and reduce mosquito populations.
- When using mosquito repellent, keep these points in mind:
- Use as directed by the label instructions on the product.
- Do not use insect repellents on babies younger than 2 months of age.
- Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children younger than 3 years of age.
- Apply an EPA-registered repellent on yourself and your loved ones when outdoors.
- When possible, wear long sleeves, pants, and socks.
- Treat standing water with larvicides in areas where water cannot be covered, emptied, or removed and will not be used for drinking. Larvicides are a type of pesticide that is applied to kill mosquitoes in their early stages of development (larvae) before they become biting adults. They are sold in forms of liquid, tablets, pellets, granules, and briquettes and available in most hardware stores. Larvicides are safe to use for the environment. Follow the instructions of the larvicide product you are using.
- Make sure to completely turn off outdoor faucets to prevent leaks; fix any faucets that are constantly leaking
- Keep tight-fitting screens on doors and windows.