COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KRHD) — Brazos County officials have confirmed that mosquito samples collected in Brazos County and submitted for testing by the Texas Department of State Health Services have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV).
The mosquito traps that collected the positive samples were located in Grimes County — the confirmed human case of WNV was located in the 77845 zip code of College Station.
"Please keep in mind that all of Brazos County should be considered positive for WNV and residents should take the necessary steps to reduce exposure to mosquitoes," officials said.
"Residents in all areas of Bryan, College Station, the Brazos Valley area, and surrounding counties should empty and eliminate any standing water in containers on their property and ensure that lawn irrigation and on-site sewage systems are functioning properly."
There are no medications to treat, or vaccines to prevent West Nile Virus infection — all Brazos County residents are urged to use the 4D’s to reduce exposure to biting mosquitoes:
• DEET All day, Every Day: Whenever outside, use and reapply insect repellents that have the active ingredient DEET or other EPA-registered repellents and always follow label instructions
• Dress: Wear long, loose, and light-colored clothing outside
• Dusk and Dawn: Limit spending time outdoors when mosquitoes are most active
• Drain: Drain or treat with larvicide all standing water in and around your home or workplace where mosquitoes could lay eggs
West Nile virus is most commonly spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. The Centers for Disease Control report most people infected with West Nile virus do not feel sick, with roughly one in five people infected developing a fever and other symptoms.
Symptoms include:
- fever
- headache
- body aches
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- rash
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