The Collin County Health Department notified Plano of the human case, according to a city release on Friday. Crews are expected to spray three areas, listed below, starting at 9 p.m. Monday. Children and pets should remain indoors during the spraying, according to the city.
The city does not have access to much information about the two human patients, although it announced Sept. 19 that the first patient had contracted West Nile fever, which is generally less dangerous than the neuro-invasive version of the virus.
The virus is often transmitted to humans through the bites of mosquitoes, which breed in stagnant water. As a precautionary measure, the city advised residents to drain water in and around their homes, wear insect repellant and leave skin covered when outdoors.
Although humans rarely contract West Nile virus—states reported 2,002 human cases in 2017 to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—it can be life-threatening for the 1 percent of human cases that result in a serious neurological condition. People age 60 and older bear the most risk from the disease, according to the agency.
Crews will spray the following areas starting at roughly 9 p.m. Monday:
- Spray Area 1: bounded to the north by McDermott Road, to the east by Sutherland Lane, to the south by Springmoss Drive and to the west by Fountain Springs Drive.
- Spray Area 2: bounded to the north by Headquarters Drive, to the east by Robinson Road, to the south by Quincy Lane and to the west by Preston Road.
- Spray Area 3: bounded to the north by Mulvane Drive, to the east by Murphy Road, to the south by Bertrand Drive and to the west by Brand Road.
