Update 7/20/2012: The City of Lewisville has hired a company to spray insecticide along streets within a half-mile radius of the two locations where the infected persons live - in the 1200 block of Logan Drive, and the 900 Block of Witherby Lane. (See map to the right) Spraying will take place Saturday night, 7/21, at 10 p.m. Residents in the area are urged to stay indoors during the spraying, keep pets indoors, and cover koi ponds and vegetable gardens, taking basic precautions.
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The City of Lewisville was notified this week that two local resident have tested positive for West Nile Virus, the first WNV confirmations in Lewisville this year. Local health officials are cautioning residents to take steps to prevent exposure and infection.
City officials have been using mosquito traps in order to determine if the virus is present in the local insect population as well, and have found positive results in several areas of the city. There have been confirmed cases of human infection in Denton and Dallas counties already this year and one virus-related death in Dallas County.
Health officials say that it should serve as a reminder to residents that they should attempt to avoid or limit exposure to mosquito bites. The Texas Department of Health recommends four steps:
- Try to stay indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes tend to be most active.
- Dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors.
- Use repellent containing the active ingredient Deet when going into areas where mosquitoes might be active.
- Drain standing water from such sources as tires, flowerpots, clogged rain gutters, cans, buckets and ground depressions. These are prime mosquito breeding areas.
Residents also are encouraged to report standing water on city-maintained property by calling Lewisville Animal Control at (972) 219-3478.
West Nile Virus is spread by mosquitoes, and officials say the mosquito population often is enhanced by standing water and other conditions easily controlled by residents. The American Mosquito Control Association recommends the following steps to curb the mosquito population and reduce the chances of West Nile infection:
- Destroy or dispose of tin cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools or other containers that collect and hold water.
- Do not allow water to accumulate in the saucers of flowerpots, cemetery urns or in pet dishes for more than two days.
- Clean debris from rain gutters and remove any standing water under or around structures or on flat roofs.
- Repair leaks around faucets and air conditioner units.
- Change water in birdbaths and wading pools at least once a week. - Stock ornamental pools with top feeding predacious minnows.
- Fill or drain puddles, ditches and swampy areas, and either remove, drain or fill tree holes and stumps with mortar. These areas may also be treated with Bti or methoprene products.
- Eliminate seepage from cisterns, cesspools and septic tanks.
- Eliminate standing water around animal watering troughs. Flush livestock water troughs twice a week.
- Check for trapped water in plastic or canvas tarps used to cover boats, pools, etc. Arrange the tarp to drain the water.
- Check around construction sites or do-it-yourself improvements to ensure that proper back filling and grading prevent drainage problems.
- Irrigate lawns and gardens carefully to prevent water from standing for several days.
- If ditches do not flow and contain stagnant water for one week or longer, they can produce large numbers of mosquitoes.
The Texas Department of Health operates a toll-free WNV information line in both English and Spanish at (888) 883-9997, and has expanded information posted on its Web site at www.tdh.state.tx.us. Denton County Health Department also has information about West Nile virus at (940) 349-2907, or on the Web at dentoncounty.com/heart/wnv.
From a submitted report - Originally published 7/18, re-topped 7/20
Re: Officials Confirm Two West Nile Virus Cases in Lewisv...
Man am I tired of hearing health officials (Denton County is simply parroting Texas Department of Health) encouraging people to "wear long sleeves and pants" in the middle of a Texas summer. They're just covering their butts, but seriously, if the heat was at the top of the news cycle right now, regardless as to how many actual cases of West Nile there were, we'd be getting completely different advice.
Hundreds, if not thousands of people die in this country every year from complications due to heat. That number dwarfs anything related to West Nile, but I'm genuinely worried that many people - especially seniors - might take this advice to heart. I realize it's very hard to judge the numbers, since many people who get West Nile don't even know they have it and many who don't are under the mistaken impression they do, but regardless of how you figure it, it makes no sense to give out advice that defies common sense.
Re: Officials Confirm Two West Nile Virus Cases in Lewisv...
Going to disagree a bit on this one. Long sleeves and long pants are just as comfortable as shorts and a t-shirt.
Google images of people who work outdoors, especially field workers. They almost entirely wear long sleeves and pants (and hats), and they work in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and California central valley summers.
Appropriate long sleeves and pants provide sun protection, protection from cuts and scrapes, as well as the cooling effect of cotton wicking sweat away.
Re: Officials Confirm Two West Nile Virus Cases in Lewisv...
Many outdoor workers are required to wear long sleeves and pants due to OSHA Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) regulations. Practically speaking, their need for proper PPE is going to be more important than their heat regulations. If you have to choose between the lesser of two evils, workplace-specific safety is going to be more important than heat.
I spend many hours outside during the summer. I've been sunburned many times, but I've also experienced heat stroke, and I would gladly take the worst sunburn over that any day.
I don't really get the cold versus heat thing... I'm fairly sure people aren't typically affected by cold weather in Texas in summer. It's all a matter of practical application. Since more clothing reduces the ability of your body to regulate core temperature, and since that leads to a lot of bad things, it just makes no sense to advocate that the general population wear excessive clothing because of dubious claims that it will somehow reduce your likelihood of getting West Nile. -BC
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Anonymous
Posted: 2012/7/19 18:28 Updated: 2012/7/20 8:34
Re: Officials Confirm Two West Nile Virus Cases in Lewisv...
Did you notice that the CDC suggested long sleeves and long-legged pants when the mosquitoes are swarming at dawn and dusk? They also recommend not going out at those times. If you don't go out at dawn and dusk then you don't have to worry about the clothing requirements.
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Anonymous
Posted: 2012/7/20 16:00 Updated: 2012/7/20 16:24
Re: Officials Confirm Two West Nile Virus Cases in Lewisv...
The worst part is it has limited effect. I tried the whole long pants, long sleeves thing so I could work in my garden a few weeks ago. I got mosquito bites on my face. The only thing that keeps them off me is DEET. Nothing else works. Other repellants, the mosquitoes are still hovering around me and still manage to get a few bites in. That's really what has kept me indoors during this summer, as the heat hasn't been quite as bad as last year, for the most part. But the only semi-comfortable times of day, the mosquitoes are out in full force.
Re: Officials Confirm Two West Nile Virus Cases in Lewisv...
The two local cases of human infection are located in the 1200 block of Logan Drive and the 900 block of Witherby. The city has hired a company to spray insecticide along streets within a half-mile radius of those locations. Spraying is scheduled for Saturday night starting at 10 p.m. All residents -- not just those living near those two locations -- are encouraged to follow the tips listed on the city website, www.cityoflewisville.com.
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Re: Officials Confirm Two West Nile Virus Cases in Lewisv...
