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Cedar Park, Texas – For the fourth time this year, a sample of mosquitoes at a trapping site in Cedar Park has been tested after West Nile virus, city officials said Wednesday.
Positive samples were taken at a test site in southwestern Cedar Park, in the Cypress Creek / Sun Chase area, officials said. It's the same site from where the other three positive tests emerged.
Williamson County officials have pointed out that no human cases have been reported since 2016. In addition, health officials have noted that West Nile virus should not be confused with human beings. other viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. For more information on West Nile Virus, visit www.wcchd.org or www.txwestnile.org.
The latest positive result is the third positive to appear on the Cypress Creek / Sun Chase sampling site since early August, according to the city's archives. A mosquito sample from a Cypress Creek / Lakeline test site was tested positive for West Nile after testing in mid-September, according to the records.
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The health district has six traps used regularly to trap mosquitoes at various locations in Cedar Park. The species that has been tested positive is Culex quinquefasciatus (southern house mosquito), a species with a flight radius of about one mile. Whenever the result of the West Nile Virus test is positive, health district officials will conduct extensive trapping in other locations. If the expanded trapping tests give a negative result, the trapping returns to the regular operations and not widened, explained the persons in charge.
"The city is working diligently to drain and treat stagnant water to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and thank the residents for their hard work of draining and treating stagnant water in their own homes," wrote a senior official. city in a press release released Wednesday. However, the city and the health district urge everyone to remain vigilant to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to prevent mosquito breeding on their personal property, especially given the recent rains. "
To this end, officials urge residents to follow the three D's as an additional guarantee:
- Drain stagnant water in flower pots, pet plates or clogged gutters so that mosquitoes do not have a place to breed and treat water that can not be drained.
- Defend using an EPA approved insect repellent.
- Wear long-sleeved clothes and pants on the outside.
Because mosquitoes breed in stagnant or stagnant water, eliminating mosquito breeding sites and reducing the risk of mosquito bites is the most effective defense against exposure to West Nile virus.
In addition to clearing stagnant and stagnant water from their properties, the city's parks and recreation departments use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) larvicide tablets on public lands (such as parks) to treat stagnant water. which can not be drained. Bt is a naturally occurring bacterium that is safe for humans and most domestic animals, but it interrupts the mosquito breeding cycle. Bt for domestic use is available at most "big box" hardware retailers, officials said.
In addition, the City Code Enforcement Division focuses its efforts on reducing mosquitoes throughout the community.
City officials urge residents aware of the presence of stagnant water on public or private property to report it to the Code Application Division via www.cedarparktexas.gov/ReportaProblem, the application CPConnect 2.0 on your mobile device or by email at the address code @ cedarparktexas. gov. For more information on mosquito safety, visit the Williamson County website and the Health District of Cities Health by clicking here.
The dates and locations of the analytical samples since the beginning of the sampling during the summer are as follows:
Date of sampling: September 27, 2018
Result: positive
Test location: Cypress Creek / Sun Chase
Type of test: regular
Date of sampling: September 18, 2018
Result: negative
Test location: Cypress Creek / Lakeline
Test type: expanded
Date of sampling: September 13, 2018
Result: positive
Test location: Cypress Creek / Lakeline
Test type: expanded
Date of sampling: September 6, 2018
Result: positive
Test location: Cypress Creek / Sun Chase
Type of test: regular
Collection date: August 2nd, 2018
Result: positive
Test location: Cypress Creek / Sun Chase
Type of test: regular
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, most people (eight in ten) infected with West Nile virus do not develop symptoms. However, some people affected develop fever. According to the CDC, about one in five infected people have a fever accompanied by other symptoms such as headaches, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or rashes. Most people with this type of West Nile virus recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months, health officials said.
However, severe symptoms develop in some people. About one in every 150 infected people contract a serious disease of the central nervous system such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord), according to the CDC:
- Symptoms of serious illness include high fever, headache, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis .
- Serious illness can occur in people of all ages; However, people over 60 are at higher risk. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and people who have had organ transplants are also more exposed.
- Recovery from a serious illness can take several weeks or months. Some effects on the central nervous system may be permanent.
- About one in 10 people who develop a critical illness affecting the central nervous system are dying.
Diagnostic
- Consult your health care provider if you develop the symptoms described above.
- Your health care provider may order West Nile Virus infection testing.
- To learn more about the tests, click here.
Treatment
- No specific vaccine or antiviral treatment against West Nile virus infection is available.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used to reduce fever and relieve some symptoms.
- In severe cases, patients often need to be hospitalized for supportive treatment, such as intravenous solutions, pain medications, and nursing care.
- If you think that you or someone in your family is infected with West Nile virus, talk to your health care provider.
- To learn more about treatment, visit the CDC's Health Care Providers page.
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