City of Georgetown continues mosquito prevention programs

Additionally, the city and health district have started a Fight theBitecampaign to further reduce the risk of residents catching the virus. Four steps have been emphasized to keep residents protected: stay indoors during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, dress in long sleeves or pants, defend against mosquitoes with repellant and drain standing water so mosquitoes do not have a place to breed.

Check your yards and empty any container that can hold water, Zettel Nalen said in a statement.

Zettel Nalen also suggests the use of larvicides such as mosquito dunks for rain barrels or low-lying areas because the naturally occurring bacteria is harmless to people, pets, fish, wildlife and other insects.

Texas Department of State Health Services reported that there were 183 human West Nile Virus disease cases throughout the state in 2013.No human cases of West Nile have been reported in Texas this year, according to the news release.

For more information and facts about the West Nile Virus in Texas, visit www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/arboviral/westnile.