On Friday, the Williamson County City and Health Department notified the city that a mosquito trap sample collected in Taylor tested positive for West Nile virus.
The positive sample was collected on July 2 from a trap site near North Drive and TH Johnson Drive.
These tests are part of WCCHD’s integrated vector management program, which aims to prevent human infection with mosquito-borne diseases through surveillance, control, prevention and education. The positive tests were confirmed by laboratory results received on July 5.
The last date a positive sample was collected in Taylor was in August 2023 at a location in Murphy Park.
Since testing began for the 2024 season, five mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile virus in Williamson County. In 2023, 35 mosquito trap samples tested positive for West Nile virus in Williamson County. In 2023, one human case of West Nile virus was reported in Williamson County.
Symptoms of infection may include fever, headache, body aches, rash on the trunk, and swollen lymph nodes. People over 50 years of age and/or with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe symptoms, which may include stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, loss of vision, paralysis, and in rare cases, death.
The most important method of preventing West Nile virus is to reduce the number of mosquitoes in residential, work and recreational areas. Health officials urge everyone to protect themselves from mosquito bites and prevent mosquito breeding on their own property. Mosquitoes breed in standing water and only need a teaspoon to do so. By draining all standing water sources in and around your property, you will reduce the number of places where mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed.
What you can do:
The most effective protection measures against West Nile virus are eliminating mosquito breeding grounds and reducing the risk of mosquito bites. As part of the “Fight the Bite” campaign, the health department recommends the 3 Ds of mosquito safety:
Drain any standing water in flower pots, pet bowls, or clogged gutters to prevent mosquitoes from breeding, and treat any water that cannot drain.
Protect yourself with an EPA-approved insect repellent.
Wear long sleeves and long pants when outdoors.
For more information, visit the WCCHD website at www.wcchd.org or the Texas Department of State Health Services West Nile website at txwestnile.org. WCCHD also has a Mosquito Surveillance Dashboard that shows locations of positive traps on a map, and other information can be found on the WCCHD Mosquito Surveillance Dashboard at arcgis.com.
