Public Information Office
210 S. McDonald St. Suite 636
McKinney, TX 75069
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Leigh Hornsby, Public Information Officer
972-548-4772
lhornsby@co.collin.tx.us
February 18, 2004
Collin County Hosts First West Nile Virus Conference
(McKinney, TX) -- Collin County Healthcare Services along with Collin County
Development Services will host a West Nile Virus conference for city environmental
health officials on Thursday, February 19th.
Regional experts including Dallas County Entomologist Scott Sawlis, Tarrant
County Environmental Health Manager Gene Rattan and Dr. Allan Knutson with
Texas A&M will present topics such as determining mosquito species and
controlling pests. Health officials will be able to gain practical experience
dipping for larvae and setting up traps for mosquitoes.
According to Collin County Nurse Epidemiologist Janet Glowicz, prevention
of West Nile infections is accomplished through community efforts. “By offering
this opportunity to Collin County cities, we hope to increase the numbers
of local governments equipped and knowledgeable about testing, trapping and
controlling mosquitoes,” says Glowicz.
In the past, Collin County has focused on several different ways of retrieving
information about the potential for human outbreaks. “We’ve learned that reports
of dead birds are not very effective in predicting where humans may become
ill,” says Collin County Development Services Manager Misty Brown. “Reports
of infected mosquitoes are a much higher indicator of potential human infection.
By encouraging cities to trap mosquitoes, our healthcare services department
will be better able to assess the risk of infection among residents.”
“We know that West Nile will continue to be a serious health threat for Collin
County residents. We want to do everything we can to help the professionals
in each city have the equipment and knowledge to identify and control areas
of concern,” says Glowicz.
During the 2003 mosquito season, three humans and 20 horses are known to have
contracted West Nile in Collin County. Two mosquito pools, one in Richardson
and one in Plano, had West Nile-positive mosquitoes. West Nile infections
peaked in September.
The conference will be held at the Collin County Youth Park, 7117 County Road
166, northwest of McKinney.
Interview opportunities will be available between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
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