Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile in Williamson County park
Officials say that a sample of mosquitoes collected from a trap in a Williamson County park located in the area of FM 1431 and County Road 175 has tested positive for West Nile virus.
The sample was collected on October 13 and the positive test was indicated in a lab result from the Texas Department of State Health Services lab in Austin and reported to the Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) on October 24.
The species that tested positive is the southern house mosquito or Culex quinquefasciatus which has a flight range of about one mile.
Officials say that Williamson County parks staff will continue mosquito control efforts with the treatment of standing water with larvacide and WCCHD says it will continue monitoring and testing.
WCCHD asks people to be vigilant about protecting themselves outdoors and to do their part by preventing mosquito breeding on personal property.
The following steps are recommended:
- Defend by using an EPA-approved insect repellant
- Dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors, especially at dusk and dawn
- Drain standing water in flower pots, pet dishes or clogged gutters so mosquitoes don't have a place to breed and treat water that can't be drained
Officials say there have been no reported human cases of West Nile in Williamson County in 2016 and none since 2014.
You can get more inform at the WCCHD website here or the Texas Department of State Health Services West Nile website here.