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Dallas County Gets Ready for West Nile Season |
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DCHHS Gets Ready for West Nile Season
Mosquito season in Dallas County typically runs from May to October with peak activity in August. Public education and personal protection is vital in protecting the public from the disease. Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) has stepped up its efforts to detect, prevent and control the spread of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses.
“DCHHS is committed to protecting the community from the West Nile virus,” DCHHS Director Zachary Thompson said. “We will continue to work with our city partners to protect Dallas County residents from mosquitoborne illnesses.” DCHHS West Nile prevention activities include surveillance, source reduction, larvaciding (killing mosquito larvae or wigglers), adulticiding (spraying for adult mosquitoes), and public education.
“We are collecting and identifying mosquitoes to determine if the mosquito species that carries West Nile, primarily the Culex species, is active in Dallas County at this time,” said DCHHS Entomologist/Vector Control Supervisor Scott Sawlis. “Mosquitoes can breed in as little as one-half inch of standing water,” Mr. Sawlis said. “By ensuring that your property – including flower pots, trash cans, tires, gutters, etc. - is free of standing water, you can help protect your community from mosquitoes that may carry the West Nile virus.”
“The most effective way to reduce any mosquito-borne disease like West Nile is prevention,” said Dr. John Carlo, DCHHS Medical Director. “The best way to avoid West Nile infection is to avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellent and wearing long, loose-fitting, light colored clothing when outside at dusk and dawn.” Studies have shown that the majority of people who contracted the more serious form of West Nile virus did not use insect repellent.
In 2005, Dallas County had 34 confirmed human cases of West Nile with one death. In 2004, DCHHS reported a total of 16 human West Nile cases (6 with West Nile fever and 10 with neuroinvasive West Nile) with no deaths. In 2003, Dallas County had a total of 54 human West Nile cases with 4 deaths. In 2002, the first year the virus was reported in Dallas County, there were 27 human cases with 3 deaths.
For more information about mosquito activities in Dallas County, call the DCHHS Environmental Health Division at 214-819-2115 during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or visit
www.dallascounty.org.
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