Houston mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile virus – Houston Public Media

A mosquito sample recently collected in Houston tested positive for West Nile virus, according to Harris County Public Health.

The sample was conducted by the Harris County Public Health Mosquito and Vector Control Division and collected within the 77019 zip code of Inner Loop 610, which covers a section of River Oaks and Fourth neighborhood of Houston.

The division is active spraying operations in the evening where the positive sample was found.

West Nile virus is transmitted to humans when mosquitoes feed on infected birds and then bite humans. In rare cases, the virus has been transmitted from person to person through blood transfusion and organ transplantation.

Most people infected with the virus develop no symptoms, while others develop fever and body aches, and about one in 150 people develop serious illness affecting their central nervous system, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

There is no vaccine to prevent West Nile virus, but people can reduce their risk by protecting themselves from mosquito bites, according to the CDC:

• use insect repellent
• wear protective clothing like long-sleeved shirts and pants
• check containers holding water inside and out

Mosquitoes are present all year round and are more prevalent during the warmer months. They are most active from June to October. Of the 56 species of mosquitoes found in Harris County, only a few transmit diseases like West Nile virus, chikungunya, dengue and Zika, according to Harris County Public Health.

In April, county officials warned of a potential influx of mosquito-borne illnesses as temperatures rise. There were 326 cases of mosquito-borne illnesses in 2021, and fewer than 100 cases combined in 2022 and 2023.