Georgetown mosquito trap tests positive for West Nile, spraying scheduled for weekend

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A mosquito sample collected in Georgetown last month tested positive for West Nile virus this week. The city is planning to spray for mosquitos in the area this weekend due to the presence of the virus.

The sample was collected Aug. 27 from a trap site in Geneva Park, located at 1021 Quail Valley Drive, according to the city.

It’s the second consecutive positive sample from that trap location, city officials said.

A Williamson County and Cities Health District contractor is scheduled to treat the area via truck-mounted spraying along the street right-of-way Friday and Saturday after 9 p.m.

The city said although the mosquito control product poses no significant health risk, people and pets may want to stay indoors during spraying.

Since the Health District began this year’s testing in May, 48 mosquito trap samples in Williamson County have tested positive for West Nile, and there has been one reported human case so far this year.

The Williamson County Health District has a page online that people can view to see where West Nile has been detected and learn more about mosquito management.

Spraying Sept. 6 and 7

The City is following the Health District’s best practices for Integrated Mosquito Management, which calls for truck-mounted spraying along the street right-of-way, along with enhanced monitoring and testing and increased public outreach and education. Enhanced mosquito control efforts will also continue with the treatment of standing water with larvicide.

A map of the area is below. The use of the insecticide will reduce the adult mosquito population in that area, according to the city.

West Nile prevention

Know the dangers and fight the bite with the “four Ds”:

• Drain standing water: Mosquitoes breed in standing water and need as little as one teaspoon of water. Emptying water that accumulates in toys, tires, trash cans, buckets, clogged rain gutters and plant pots will eliminate places for mosquitoes to lay eggs and reproduce.
• Dusk to dawn : Although different species of mosquitoes are active at different times of day, the Culex mosquito that spreads West Nile virus is most active between dusk and dawn.
• Dress : Wear pants and long sleeves when you are outside. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing; mosquito-repellent clothing is also available.
• DEET : Apply insect repellant: Use an EPA-registered repellent such as those containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone. Apply on both exposed skin and clothing.

Signs and symptoms

West Nile virus is commonly spread through mosquito bites and is not spread through coughing, sneezing or touching infected people or animals. It is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Approximately one in five people infected with West Nile virus develop symptoms such as:

• Headache
• Body aches
• Joint pains
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Rash

Of those infected, few can develop serious illness affecting the central nervous system. People over 60 years of age, persons with medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension or kidney disease and immunocompromised individuals, such as organ transplant recipients, are at greater risk of developing serious disease.

Resources online to help

Testing sites can be tracked and can be seen with the latest cases reported in Williamson County on a dashboard online. The city of Taylor has more information on its website as well.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also has a website that can track it across the U.S. , as well as here in Texas.

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