Kingsville Health Department Responding to Detection of West Nile

City of Kingsville

KINGSVILLE (News Release) - Using mosquitos traps, the City of Kingsville Health Department sent samples of the trapped mosquitos to the Texas Department of State Health Services lab in Austin for arbovirus testing.

Kingsville City Health Director Emilio Garcia is notifying the public that a mosquito, trapped Tuesday, September 13th, tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV).

In response to the detection of the WNV, crews will begin spraying the impacted location tonight, September 20th to include a one-mile radius. The operation will continue for three days, through Thursday evening. The infected mosquito was trapped at 1800 N. Armstrong Street. There are currently no identified human West Nile infections in our region.

Many people impacted by West Nile Virus will be asymptomatic or develop mild flu-like illness, however, in rare cases, West Nile Virus infection can cause central nervous system damage and even death. City staff are working closely with Region 11 to assure the City Health Department response reduces the threat of West Nile Virus transmission.

“For the first time ever, we detected West Nile Virus infected mosquitoes last summer in Kleberg County,” said Garcia. “Through a series of mosquito spraying operations and constant testing, we were able to reduce the risk of transmission to citizens,” Garcia said. Once the three-day spraying operation is complete, crews will trap mosquitos in the impacted areas again to retest mosquito pools at those specific sites. Garcia also attributes the successful response last year to community driven mosquito bite prevention practices.

The community is urged to follow previously recommended mosquito bite prevention practices by avoiding outdoor activity at dawn and dusk when mosquitos are most active. For outdoor activity during these time frames, the health department recommends residents wear long pants and long sleeves and use a mosquito repellant that contains DEET.

You can also help prevent mosquitos breeding around your home and business by clearing any standing water on your property. Buckets, tires and bird feeders facilitate mosquito breeding. It’s a good idea to keep your lawn maintained to curb mosquito breeding.