What happened
Frisco officials received confirmation that two mosquito pools in the city tested positive for West Nile virus, according to an Aug. 9 city news release.
- Near Oakbrook Park
- Along Plantation Lane
The city will not spray for mosquitos but will increase surveillance efforts in those areas, according to the release. No human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Frisco this year.
Frisco tracks its West Nile virus cases through a public map, which reports the city’s last positives, one of which, also near Oakbrook Park, was documented in summer 2022.
“There’s no way to predict when a positive mosquito pool may occur or why we would experience a period of nondetection,” Frisco’s Environmental Health Supervisor Jazalyn Harp said in the release. “Although we’ve been fortunate to not have any positive mosquito pools since September 2022, our mosquito control program has remained diligent and maintained weekly testing.”
Frisco tests mosquito pools from May 1-Nov. 15 every year in accordance with its Mosquito Surveillance and Response Plan, according to the release.
More information on the city’s plan, and mosquito breeding and bite prevention can be found here or by contacting the city’s Health & Food Safety Division at 972-292-5304.
“This ongoing surveillance is essential to maintain our readiness and to sustain public health,” Harp said in the release.
What you need to know
West Nile virus is most commonly spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes, which get the virus by feeding on infected birds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Going forward
To limit the chance of being bit by a mosquito, the Texas Department of State Health Services recommends residents take the following precautions:
- Wear: Wear long sleeves and pants outside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
- Apply: Use insect repellants if outside. Approved repellents contain DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Remove: Drain standing water that collects in bird baths, French drains, clogged gutters, saucers under potted plants and splash blocks. The mosquitoes that carry the virus can breed in stagnant water.
