Cedar Park West Nile Tests In Mosquitoes Negative For 2 Straight Weeks

CEDAR PARK, TX — Williamson County has now had two consecutive weeks of negative test results for West Nile Virus in new mosquito samples taken from expanded trap locations, city officials said.

Enhanced trapping and testing has taken place over the past two weeks due to a sample from one location that tested positive for West Nile Virus during the week of Oct. 2. This sample was collected near the intersection of Cypress Creek Road and Sun Chase Boulevard.

Despite the subsequent negative tests, mosquito trapping will continue as usual, officials said. Still, officials urged residents to take their own proactive measures to prevent mosquito bites and breeding of the insects on their property where stagnant water might accumulate.

After that positive testing, health officials 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. All samples were negative for West Nile Virus, officials said.

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, officials said. 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 stressed, and no such cases have been confirmed since last fall.

Due to continued mosquito activity until the first hard freeze of the upcoming winter season, officials are encouraging residents to be especially vigilant about protecting themselves from mosquito bites when outdoors and preventing mosquito breeding on their personal property.

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, officials said. Bt is a naturally occurring bacteria that is harmless to people and most pets but it interrupts the reproduction cycle of mosquitoes, officials noted. You can find Bt for home use at most “big box” hardware retailers.

In addition, the city’s Code Enforcement Division is focusing its efforts on mosquito abatement throughout the community. Those aware of a location of stagnant water on public or private property are urged to report it to the city’s Code Enforcement Division via www.cedarparktexas.gov/ReportaProblem, the CPConnect app on your mobile device or e-mail at code@cedarparktexas.gov.

For more information on mosquito safety, please visit the Williamson County and Cities Health District’s website by clicking here. For more information about West Nile virus, click here and here.

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.

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