The office of Environmental Health has reported three positive tests of West Nile Virus in Abilene residents.
No Taylor County residents have tested positive for the virus since 2006 but these three and one other county resident may potentially just be the first of the year.
The virus was first detected on August 1 when a routine test of area mosquitoes returned a positive result from the state, the first since 2008.
Texas is currently the epicenter of a national spike in West Nile cases. Nearly half of the nations 118 deaths have been located in the state while only one other state is in double digits. This year’s 1,182 cases tops the count nationwide for each of the past three years.
According to Callie Harris, the environmental health department’s media relations manager, the city is constantly monitoring for cases of West Nile Virus throughout the mosquito population.
“Throughout the year the environmental health department traps and sends mosquitoes to the state to be tested to see if they contain the West Nile Virus,” she said.
It was after the positive test on August 1 that the city began a campaign to educate and protect residents.
“That’s when we really began our public education to let people know that there was West Nile in the area.”
The department promoted the “Four D’s” as a way to decrease of getting the virus. Insect repellent with DEET can deter mosquitoes and dressing in long sleeves and pants makes it difficult for them to bite. Dusk and dawn, mosquitoes most active times, should be spent indoor and draining standing water around your house can eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.
Along with promoting knowledge, the city has conducted street sprays, the last of which was Monday, of a chemical to kill the mosquitoes.
Symptoms of the virus can take up to 15 days to surface and include headaches, fever and occasionally a skin rash. Only about 20% of those infected with the virus will show symptoms and less that 1% of cases lead to death. Anyone who has possibly been infected with the virus should visit a clinic since cases can only be confirmed through blood or spinal fluid samples.
West Nile Virus is most prevalent during the fall, when temperatures and climate are most susceptible to the breeding of mosquitoes, however, infections can happen year round.
“I think we should always be cautious,” said Harris. “We are always testing and monitoring mosquitoes very closely. It’s just something that we’re very vigilant about.”
More information regarding protection and symptoms can be found through the Center for Disease Control and the Texas Department of State Health Services.
