Montgomery County, The Woodlands Township continue mosquito testingOfficials with Montgomery County and The Woodlands Township are completing mosquito testing and surveying for diseases after some trappings yielded positive results for the West Nile virus.


Township Environmental Services Manager John Geiger said the township recently performed surveillance in The Woodlands. To date, the tests have produced three positive West Nile virus results in The Woodlands: two positive results in the Village of Alden Bridge and one in the Village of Grogan’s Mill. Trappings in Shenandoah by Montgomery County also tested positive for the West Nile virus.


“[West Nile virus] is a concern and has been here for years now,” Geiger said. “There is no way of predicting how many more [cases] we’ll get this year.”


Geiger said while there have been no positive results for the Zika virus, officials are still taking precautions.


“We’re taking extra steps for the Zika virus as well—the conditions are possible for the virus to develop here,” he said. “We will continue spraying until disease activity ends, which will be about late October.”


According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas has had 41 reported cases of the Zika virus since June. In addition, Texas reported a total of 252 cases of the West Nile virus in 2015.


Justin Faucek, director of the Montgomery County Precinct 3 mosquito abatement program, said county officials are having an easier time detecting diseases due to new in-house testing that allows them to work more quickly.


The program is in charge of trapping and testing mosquitoes for diseases and spraying for adult mosquitoes.


“We now have [a] faster response time with the equipment we have, and we don’t have to send it somewhere else to be tested,” Faucek said. “We’ve found a few positives for West Nile in the testing, and we’re going to continue testing for the virus.”


Faucek said that although the Zika virus has not been found locally, he is operating under the impression that the virus will get to the area eventually.


“We want residents to wear insect repellent and get rid of freestanding water,” he said.