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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.
A Wylie resident, who tested positive for the West Nile
Virus, may be the first person in the Dallas-Fort Worth region to contract
a fatal West Nile infection this year. The elderly gentleman was hospitalized
with West Nile Virus last week and passed away on Friday. This is the
third human case of West Nile Virus reported in Collin County this season.
Because it can take some time for the state to confirm West Nile Virus
cases, the cities are notified of potential cases as soon as possible.
This enables the city health departments to perform environmental inspections,
to trap mosquitoes for testing, and to begin other control measures as
the city deems necessary.
Mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile Virus in several Collin
County cities, including Plano, McKinney, Richardson, and in unincorporated
areas.
"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.
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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