Mosquito sample collected in Houston tests positive for West Nile

Mosquitoes hang around Houston year-round, but they are most active from May to October, increasing the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses, according to a news release from Harris County Public Health.

Some of the 56 species of mosquitoes are found around Harris County and spread diseases such as West Nile and Zika viruses.

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Two local cases of West Nile virus appeared in 2023 out of 38 reported human cases of mosquito-borne illnesses. Most reported cases were travel-related. No deaths have been reported in the county, although the Texas Department of State Health Services reported six deaths in Texas were linked to West Nile virus, according to a release from Harris County Public Health .

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people should use insect repellents registered by the Environmental Protection Agency, wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants, and clothing and equipment treated with Permethrin.

The CDC has a list of recommended repellents to use, such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, Para-menthane-diol, and 2-undecanone.

When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are found to be safe and effective, even for pregnant and lactating women, the CDC website states.

Although this won’t completely protect you from mosquitoes, it is the best way to reduce the chances of them biting you.

Many counties, including Montgomery, Harris, Fort Bend and Galveston, monitor both nuisance mosquitoes and mosquitoes that can spread viruses. Most counties and cities, like Houston and Conroe, began spraying regularly.

Spraying by truck is more common in most areas, officials said.

Galveston County officials use aerial spraying to target mosquitoes, according to the county website.

According to the CDC, planes and helicopters can treat very large areas with larvicides to kill larvae or adulticides to kill adult mosquitoes.

According to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, a single twin-engine plane can treat 40,000 acres in one night, an area that would require about 40 trucks on the ground.

Although larvicides and adulticides temporarily reduce the number of mosquitoes in an area, they will not eliminate them permanently.

The stings can take several days before our body begins to react to them.

If a person begins to have difficulty breathing, they should seek medical attention as this indicates a reaction to the bite.