Residents Warned. Mosquitoes Targeted.
San Antonio Express News 09/16/16, written by John Gonzalez
Discovery of a mosquito bearing the West Nile virus in far western Bexar County set off a new round of public warnings and abatement activities Thursday.
First responders went house to house in the Wildhorse subdivision, alerting residents to the multiple dangers posed by mosquitoes, and county crews treated the immediate area of the discovery with a larvicide.
Also Thursday, Metro Health District reported three new confirmed cases of the Zika virus in San Antonio, bringing the total here to 13.
Mosquitoes bearing the West Nile virus first were detected in Bexar County about a decade ago, and the state and San Antonio saw a serious spike in activity in 2012, when at least eight cases were detected in Bexar County and one local death was attributed to West Nile.
The latest activity was set off by this week’s confirmation by state health officials that a mosquito that turned up in one of the 27 traps set up by the county tested positive for West Nile. The trap was in an unincorporated area just south of FM 1560 and Shaenfield Road.
“We’ve not gotten any hits until this past week,” said County Engineer Renee Green. “We made the decision to be proactive with the neighborhood, to hand out fliers so the residents are supervigilant. There are no reported (human) cases of West Nile virus,” she added.
Elements from the county’s Public Works Department, Emergency Management team and from Emergency Service District No. 7 converged on the area Thursday to dispense information about the detection of West Nile and steps to stop mosquitoes from multiplying.
County officials said they’re continuing warm-weather mosquito eradication programs that began in April, including fogging in unincorporated areas to prevent the Zika virus, West Nile and Chikungunya. The programs will continue into the cooler weather, until overnight lows start dipping into the mid-60s, Green said.
At the same time, the public is being urged to use mosquito repellent and to eliminate standing water — indoors and outdoors — where mosquitoes breed in warm weather.
This week’s data from the Texas Department of State Health Services said Bexar County is one of about four dozen Texas counties with confirmed West Nile virus activity.
The state agency said most people infected with West Nile display no symptoms but some infections can result in serious illness or death.
General Questions About West Nile Virus
West Nile virus is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) most commonly spread by infected mosquitoes. West Nile virus can cause febrile illness, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).
How people get infected with West Nile Virus
Most people get infected with West Nile virus by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to humans and other animals.
In a very small number of cases, West Nile virus has been spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, and from mother to baby during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding.
Is there a vaccine for West Nile Virus
No. Currently there is no West Nile virus vaccine available for people. Many scientists are working on this issue, and there is hope that a vaccine will become available in the future.
Time for professional mosquito control
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