Irving, TX
Public Health Banner

West Nile Virus Information

 The City has increased their eradication program in those areas and is working closely with the Dallas County Health & Human Services Department as well as the Texas Department of Health to ensure that the health of the citizens of Irving is protected.

If you have any further questions after reading the material below, just call Public Health & Environmental Services at (972) 721-2346.

 Risk of Becomming Ill

What are the risks of getting the West Nile Virus?

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even in areas where the virus is circulating, very few mosquitoes are infected with the virus.  If the mosquito is infected, less than 1% of people who get bitten and become infected will become severely ill.  The chance that someone will become severely ill from one mosquito bite is extremely small.  Among those with severe cases of the West Nile virus, case-fatality rates range from 3% to 15% and are highest among the elderly.

Protecting My Family 

What can I do to protect my family and myself from the virus?

There is currently no vaccine against West Nile encephalitis, however, several companies are working towards developing a vaccine.  In the meantime the CDC is recommending the following precautions:

  • Stay indoors at dawn and dusk.

  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors.

  • Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing.

  • Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin. An effective repellent will contain 35% DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). DEET in high concentrations, greater than 35%, provides no additional protection.

  • Repellents may irritate the eyes and mouth, so avoid applying repellent to the hands of children.

  • Whenever you use an insecticide or insect repellent, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's DIRECTIONS FOR USE, as printed on the product.

  • Install or repair window and door screens so that mosquitoes cannot get indoors.

  • Note: Vitamin B and "ultrasonic" devices are NOT effective in preventing mosquito bites.

Vector Control (Click here for additional information)

Vector Control Specialist, @ the hotline: 972.721.3755

Irving’s Mosquito Control Program runs from April through October each year, and the program employs two licensed technicians. The staff is constantly assessing all situations and all available information.

Source Reduction:
The best way to control mosquitoes is through source reduction. Citizens are asked to eliminate anything that could hold standing water on their property. Discard old tires or store them inside. Repair leaky plumbing and outside faucets. Mosquitoes only develop in water.

Larviciding:
When standing water cannot be drained promptly, larviciding may be done. The staff first makes a survey by using a dipper along the edges of the water. When larvae are found, and they can’t be eliminated in other ways, the technician may decide to treat the water with a chemical that is designed to kill larvae with the least harm to other organisms and the environment. Adding mosquito eating fish is sometimes successful. A lightweight mineral oil can be used water. Mineral oil causes little harm and dissipates rapidly. Bactimos™ granules or Altosid™ briquettes are used when a longer treatment time is necessary. The latter products have been chosen because they offer specific biological control of mosquito larvae.

Adulticiding:
The chemical control of adult mosquitoes is called adulticiding. In emergency conditions, the application of chemicals offers immediate control and is quite effective in averting or stopping epidemics. Even though greater emphasis is placed upon biological and physical control measures, a program that uses some adulticiding can be more effective overall. In Irving we have a very strong source reduction and larviciding program which is complemented by Ultra Low Volume (ULV) fogging and Thermal fogging, which is done with a hand held unit when warranted. Technicians always apply pesticides in a manner that minimizes damage to non-target organisms. Pesticides are used only to treat specific sites where mosquitoes that are being produced will cause annoyance or create a public health problem. The Mosquito Control Program calls for pesticides to be applied in a safe manner that minimizes hazard to the applicators and citizens. The staff stays current on federal and state laws regarding the use of pesticides and follows the regulations and specific instructions on the labels.

Disease Surveillance:
The City of Irving’s Mosquito Control Program can be considered among the best in the state due to the excellent surveillance being conducted. Surveillance measures are of value in determining whether or not a mosquito problem exists in an area, locating the source producing the mosquitoes, and evaluating the effectiveness of the control measures. Most cities use surveillance techniques after a disease outbreak. Irving, however, has continuing regular evaluations designed to detect disease potential prior to an outbreak in hopes of averting or lessening the severity or mosquito borne diseases (especially St. Louis Encephalitis and West Nile Virus) in the city.

Tick Borne Diseases:
Ticks are sent to the Texas Department of Health lab for identification and disease surveillance. Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are examples of tick borne diseases.

 West Nile Virus (Positive case of West Nile virus confirmed in mosquitoes)

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2006
Contact: Laurie M. Kunke, Public Information Manager, at (972) 721-2321


POSITIVE CASE OF WEST NILE VIRUS
CONFIRMED IN MOSQUITOES

The Texas Department of Health has confirmed that a batch of mosquitoes from a site in southeast Irving has tested positive for the West Nile virus. This is the first positive mosquito sample in Irving this year.
The mosquitoes were trapped at a home on Comano Drive, which is located near Texas Stadium. The City of Irving maintains an aggressive mosquito-control program, and will be concentrating its spraying efforts in the area where the infected mosquitoes were found.
West Nile virus is a disease of wild birds, and can be spread to warm-blooded animals and people through the bite of an infected mosquito. Few people who become infected with the West Nile virus become severely ill. Symptoms in people are “flu-like,” but may also include a stiff neck, severe headache, skin rash and behavioral changes.
Residents are encouraged to take sensible precautions to avoid mosquito bites. The “Four Ds” should be practiced as follows:
Dusk/Dawn – be cautious about outdoor activities at sunrise and sunset. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk.

Dress – consider wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors.

DEET – use insect repellants that contain the active ingredient DEET.

Drain – be certain to drain any types of outside containers that hold water. Bird baths should be dumped and refilled twice weekly.

Residents can call the Irving mosquito hot line at (972) 721-3755 to report high mosquito populations, standing water and frequent discoveries of dead birds (especially blue jays or crows).

 Links

Texas Department of Health
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/zoonosis/default.asp

CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/q&a.htmThis link goes to an Internet Web Site

West Nile in Texas
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/arboviral/westNile/
EPA
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/mosquito_faq.htm

Dallas County
http://www.dallascounty.org/department/hhservices/westnilevirus.html.

CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/wnv_factSheet.htm
español | chinese | français | Tagalog | vietnamese | lao | português | Hmoob | русски | kymer/cambodian