The Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) reported its second human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) neuroinvasive disease in Williamson County for 2020. The person is in their 70s and resides in central Williamson County. This season, 13 mosquito trap samples have tested positive for West Nile virus in Williamson County so far. Active positive traps have been reported in the Southwest Williamson County Regional Park/New Hope Drive area in Leander, Sun City in Georgetown, near the Brushy Creek Community Center in Round Rock, and in Granger.
Symptoms of West Nile virus infection may include fever, headache, and body aches, skin rash on the trunk of the body, and swollen lymph nodes. Those age 50 and older and/or with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk for severe symptoms, which may include stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, vision loss, paralysis, and in rare cases, death. West Nile virus cannot be passed from human to human, infection occurs from a bite of an infected mosquito.
WCCHD strongly encourages everyone to remain vigilant about protecting themselves from mosquito bites and to prevent mosquito breeding on their personal property. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, only needing as little as one teaspoon. By draining all sources of standing water in and around your property, you can reduce the number of places mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed.
What you can do:
As part of its Fight the Bite campaign the Health District recommends the 3 Ds of mosquito safety:
• Drain standing water in flowerpots, pet dishes, or clogged gutters so mosquitoes don’t have a place to breed and treat water that can’t be drained,
• Defend by using an EPA-approved insect repellent, and
• Dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors.
For more information, go to the WCCHD website at www.wcchd.org or visit the Texas Department of State Health Services West Nile website at txwestnile.org.