Harris County Public Health’s Mosquito and Vector Control Division is Activating Evening Spray Operations
HOUSTON – Harris County Public Health’s (HCPH) Mosquito and Vector Control Division (MVCD) has confirmed that a Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito sample has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) in northwest Harris County.
In response, MVCD is activating evening spray operations tonight at dusk in the area where the virus-positive mosquito sample was found and in surrounding areas. These efforts aim to reduce the risk of disease transmission by infected mosquitoes.
“Our mosquito surveillance program is essential to identifying the presence of mosquito-carrying viruses in our community and directing our response efforts to help protect the public,” said Dr. Courtney Standlee, Interim MVCD Director. “West Nile virus has been in our area since 2002. As we head into the summer months, we remind our community members to enjoy the outdoors but remember to protect themselves and their families from mosquito-borne illnesses.”
While mosquitoes are present year-round, they are more active during the warmer months, typically from May through October. Of the 56 mosquito species found in Harris County, only a few transmit diseases such as WNV, Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika.
Most people who are infected with WNV 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 WNV, contact your health care provider.
KNOW THE 3 Ts: TIP, TOSS, TAKE ACTION
As temperatures rise, so do mosquito populations. MVCD urges community members to remember the “3 Ts” when it comes to mosquito control in their area – “Tip, Toss, Take Action”.
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:
- Tossout 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 flowerpots, 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 are available in most hardware stores. Larvicides are safe to use for the environment. Follow the instructions for 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.
For other mosquito prevention tips and resources, visit hcphtx.org/preventthebite.