Cedar Park Mosquito Samples Negative For West Nile Virus

CEDAR PARK, TEXAS — Expanded testing for the presence of West Nile virus in Cedar Park mosquitoes have yielded negative results for the past two weeks after one previous sample tested positive, officials said Wednesday.

Officials with the Williamson County and Cities Health District and City of Cedar Park have now had two consecutive weeks of negative test results for West Nile Virus in new mosquito samples taken from expanded trap locations. Despite the good news, mosquito trapping will continue as usual, according to the Health District’s Best Practices for Integrated Mosquito Management.

Despite the two-week span of no virus found, City and Health District officials strongly encourage residents to remain vigilant about protecting themselves from mosquito bites and preventing mosquito breeding on their personal property – especially in light of recent rainfall. Lingering stagnant water after rain represent ideal mosquito breeding grounds from which larvae can emerge fully formed from their watery perches.

Enhanced trapping and testing over the past two weeks comes after a sample from one location tested positive for West Nile Virus, officials said. The positive sample was collected near the intersection of Cypress Creek Road and Sun Chase Boulevard before the test was returned from Texas Department of State Health Services lab in Austin the week of Aug. 6.

Related story: Cedar Park Mosquito Sampling Tests Positive For West Nile Virus

For the two weeks that followed that positive sample, the Health District collected two additional rounds of samples from ten trap locations in Cedar Park – including the site of the positive result, four other traps within about a mile of that site, plus samples taken from five other trap locations throughout Cedar Park, officials said. All samples were negative for West Nile Virus, officials added.

Health district officials noted the testing of mosquitoes is part of the City of Cedar Park’s proactive participation in the Williamson County and Cities Health District’s mosquito management program. The species that originally tested positive is Culex quinquefasciatus (southern house mosquito), which has a flight range of about one mile.

There are currently no reported human cases of West Nile Virus in Cedar Park, officials said, and Williamson County has seen no confirmed human cases since 2016. Additionally, the Health District reports no positive West Nile Virus results in Williamson County at this time, officials said.

An important note: 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 city is following the Health District’s Best Practices for Integrated Vector Management (IVM) which, at this time, call for enhanced monitoring and testing, along with increased public outreach and education, officials said. The City is draining and treating standing water on City-owned land, where possible, and is prepared to take additional action if necessary.

"Especially in light of the positive test sample’s proximity to outdoor activity at Elizabeth Milburn Park and in several nearby neighborhoods, the City and Health District are encouraging everyone to be especially vigilant about protecting themselves from mosquito bites when outdoors – and preventing mosquito breeding on their personal property," a city advisory reads.

What you can do

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. As part of its Fight the Bite campaign the Health District recommends the 3 Ds of mosquito safety.

• 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; and
• Dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors.

The City’s Parks and Recreation Department uses bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) larvicide tablets on public property (such as parks) to treat any standing water that cannot be drained, according to city officials. Bt is a naturally-occurring bacteria that is harmless to people and most pets but it interrupts the reproduction cycle of mosquitoes. You can find Bt for home use at most “big box” hardware retailers, officials added.

In addition, the City’s Code Compliance Division is focusing its efforts on mosquito abatement throughout the community. Any resident aware of a location of stagnant water on public or private property, is urged to report it to the City’s Code Compliance 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 at http://www.wcchd.org/services/disease_mgmt/fight_the_bite_-_williamson_county/index.php.

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