Public Information Office 210 S. McDonald Street Suite 626 McKinney, Texas 75069 www.collincountytx.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 3, 2006

Five human cases of West Nile Virus reported in Collin County

(McKinney, TX) – Three more human cases of West Nile Virus were reported to Collin County Health Care Services today, bringing the total number of human West Nile cases for the 2006 season to five. Persons testing positive for West Nile reside in several zip codes in the southern portion of Collin County.

Collin County Health Care Services and the cities within Collin County are working cooperatively to prevent human cases of West Nile Virus. The risk of human infection is currently elevated and will remain a risk until the first freeze this fall. “With the hot weather we can expect that the risk of transmission will increase and peak in late September and early October,” says Collin County nurse epidemiologist Janet Glowicz. “This has been the pattern in previous years.”

Mosquito pools have tested positive for West Nile Virus in several Collin County cities, including Plano, Murphy, Richardson, and in unincorporated areas.

To help protect yourself from the West Nile Virus, the Texas Department of State Health Services recommends following the “Four D’s” of prevention as follows:

1. 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.
2. Dress in long sleeves and long pants when you are outside.
3. Stay indoors at dusk and dawn, times when infected mosquitoes are most active.
4. Drain standing water in your backyard and neighborhood; old tires, flowerpots and clogged rain gutters are mosquito-breeding sites.
   

To learn more about West Nile Virus, please visit: http://www.co.collin.tx.us/healthcare_services/west_nile/west_nile.jsp.

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