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Collin County Health Care Services and Collin County Development
Services are working cooperatively to combat, investigate and educate
the public about potential cases of West Nile Virus.
"It is important that residents understand that the risk of contracting
West Nile may be higher in the fall than in the spring," says Collin
County nurse epidemiologist Janet Glowicz. "This is because the mosquitoes
have been active longer with a greater chance of encountering an infected
bird. Until the temperature drops below 50 degrees at night consistently
the mosquitoes will continue to pose a risk."
The Collin County Health Care Services department recommends
following the "Four D's" as follows:
- Apply insect repellent that contains DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide).
Be sure to read label instructions. Spray clothing with repellent as
well as exposed skin.
- Dress in long sleeves and long pants when you are outside.
- Stay indoors at dusk and dawn, times when infected mosquitoes
are most active.
- Drain standing water in your backyard and neighborhood; old
tires, flowerpots and clogged rain gutters are mosquito-breeding sites.
Residents should continue to follow these recommendations
until the first freeze this fall.
Please Note: You DO NOT need to report dead
birds to the health department. Dead birds can be disposed of by placing
in a plastic bag and depositing in the regular trash. Never touch a dead
bird with your hands and always wash your hands after disposing of a dead
bird.
Residents may report standing water, illegal dumping,
and increased mosquito activity. Please visit the
Report a West
Nile Virus Concern page for more information.
According to the Texas Department of Health (TDH), West
Nile was detected in 101 Texas counties in 2004. A total of
119 human cases of serious West Nile illnesses from 40 counties were reported,
including eight deaths.
For additional information, please visit the following
resources:
Texas
Department of Health: West Nile Information
What is West Nile?
West Nile Information Packet
Frequently
Asked Questions About West Nile
Avoiding
Common Mosquito Bites Key in Preventing West Nile Infections
2004
West Nile Statistics in Collin County
West
Nile Information for Healthcare Providers
CDC
West Nile Virus Homepage
Potential
Mosquito Breeding Grounds
Para información en español, pueden ir a: CDC
en Espaņol: Virus del Nilo Occidental.
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