4th Cedar Park Mosquito Sampling Tests Positive For West Nile

Cedar Park, Texas — For the fourth time this year, a sampling of mosquitoes at a trapping site in Cedar Park has tested postiive for West Nile virus, city officials said Wednesday.

The positive sampling emerged from a testing site in southwest Cedar Park in the Cypress Creek/Sun Chase area, officials said. It's the same site from where the other three positive tests have emerged.

Williamson County officials stress that no reported human cases have been reported since 2016. Moreover, health officials noted, West Nile Virus should not be confused with other mosquito-borne viruses. For more information about West Nile Virus visit www.wcchd.org or www.txwestnile.org.

The latest positive result is the third to emerge positive from the Cypress Creek/Sun Chase sampling site since early August, according to city records. A mosquito sample from a Cypress Creek/Lakeline testing site tested positive for West Nile after testing in mid-September, records show.

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Cedar Park Mosquito Sampling Tests Positive For West Nile Virus

Cedar Park Mosquito Sample Tests Positive For West Nile Virus

Cedar Park Mosquito Samples Negative For West Nile Virus

3rd Cedar Park Testing Site Negative For West Nile

The health district has six traps it uses to regularly trap mosquitoes at various locations throughout Cedar Park. The species that previously tested positive is Culex quinquefasciatus (southern house mosquito), a species with a flight range of about one mile. Any time there is a positive West Nile virus test result, the health district officials undertake expanded trapping at additional locations. If testing from expanded trapping yields a negative result, trapping returns to regular and not expanded operations, officials explained.

"The city has been diligently working to drain and treat standing water to help prevent mosquito breeding and thanks residents for their hard work in draining and treating standing water at their own homes," city official wrote in a Wednesday press advisory. However, the city and health district strongly encourage everyone to remain vigilant about protecting themselves from mosquito bites and preventing mosquito breeding on their personal property — especially considering recent rainfall."

To that end, officials urge residents to follow the three Ds as added safeguard:

• Drain standing water in flower pots, pet dishes or clogged gutters so mosquitoes don’t have a place to breed and treat water that can’t be drained.
• Defend by using an EPA-approved insect repellent.
• Dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors.

Because mosquitoes breed in standing or stagnant water, eliminating places where mosquitoes can breed and reducing the chances of mosquito bites are the most effective lines of defense against exposure to West Nile virus.

In addition to ridding properties of standing/stagnant water, the city's Parks and Recreation Department crews use bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) larvicide tablets on public property (such as parks) to treat any standing water that cannot be drained. Bt is a naturally-occurring bacteria that is harmless to people and most pets but it interrupts the reproduction cycle of mosquitoes. Bt for home use is available at most “big box” hardware retailers, officials noted.

Moreover, the city’s Code Enforcement Division is focusing its efforts on mosquito abatement throughout the community.

City officials urge residents aware of a location of stagnant water on public or private property to report it to the Code Enforcement Division via www.cedarparktexas.gov/ReportaProblem, the CPConnect 2.0 app on your mobile device or e-mail at code@cedarparktexas.gov. For more information on mosquito safety, visit the Williamson County and Cities Health District’s website by clicking here.

The dates and locations of testing samples since sampling began over the summer are as follows:

Sampling date: Sept. 27, 2018
Result: Positive
Test location: Cypress Creek/Sun Chase
Testing type: Regular

Sampling date: Sept. 18, 2018
Result: Negative
Test location: Cypress Creek/Lakeline
Testing type: Expanded

Sampling date: Sept. 13, 2018
Result: Positive
Test location: Cypress Creek/Lakeline
Testing type: Expanded

Sampling date: Sept. 6, 2018
Result: Positive
Test location: Cypress Creek/Sun Chase
Testing type: Regular

Sampling date: Aug. 2, 2018
Result: Positive
Test location: Cypress Creek/Sun Chase
Testing type: Regular

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, most people (eight out of ten) infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms. However, some affected people develop fever. About one in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash, according to the CDC. Most people with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months, health officials report.

However, serious symptoms do develop in a few people. About one in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord), according to the CDC:

• Symptoms of severe illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.
• Severe illness can occur in people of any age; however, people over 60 years of age are at greater risk. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk.
• Recovery from severe illness might take several weeks or months. Some effects to the central nervous system might be permanent.
• About one out of 10 people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system die.

Diagnosis

• See your healthcare provider if you develop the symptoms described above.
• Your healthcare provider can order tests to look for West Nile virus infection.
• To learn more about testing, click here.

Treatment

• No vaccine or specific antiviral treatments for West Nile virus infection are available.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used to reduce fever and relieve some symptoms.
• In severe cases, patients often need to be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment, such as intravenous fluids, pain medication, and nursing care.
• If you think you or a family member might have West Nile virus disease, talk with your health care provider.
• To learn more about treatment, visit the CDC's Healthcare Providers page.

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