First case of West Nile virus found in Austin. Here's what you need to know
Austin Public Health has detected the year's first case of West Nile virus in a pool in the 78721 ZIP code. That is the area of East Austin, west of Ed Bluestein Boulevard, south of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, east of Airport Boulevard and north of the Colorado River.
It is not a case of West Nile in humans. Instead, it was found as part of Austin Public Health's regular surveillance of mosquito areas throughout Travis County.
Last year, Travis County had one case of West Nile in a human, and six mosquito pools tested positive. The ZIP codes affected were 78759, 78754, 78723, 78721, 78704 and 78744. That first case in humans came later than in previous years — in mid-December, rather than summer.
“As more people are spending time outdoors, especially with the upcoming holiday, it’s crucial that we get the word out on how to protect yourself from mosquitoes and the viruses they may carry,” said Marcel Elizondo, environmental health services division chief. “Let’s follow the four D's."
Austin Public Health warning: Mosquito season is here. What you can do to avoid getting bitten, rid your yard of them
Remember the four D's in mosquito protection
Drain standing water. Empty buckets, toys, tires, pools, plant pots and clogged gutters. Mosquitoes breed in standing water and need as little as 1 teaspoon to lay their eggs.
Dusk to dawn. The mosquito that spreads West Nile virus is most active at dusk and dawn.
Dress: Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and long pants and long sleeves when you are outside. Clothing is available with built-in mosquito protection.
DEET: Apply insect repellant that has DEET in it. Use it on both skin and clothing.
West Nile isn't the only mosquito threat
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported five cases of malaria in the United States this week. These cases were not contracted during overseas travel. Four of the cases were in Florida. The other case was in Texas in Cameron County, where Brownsville is located.
More: Malaria cases in Texas and Florida are the first US spread in 20 years, CDC says
What are the symptoms of West Nile virus?
About 80% of people who contract West Nile virus have no symptoms. Most people who do develop symptoms have fever, headaches, joint pain, body aches, swollen lymph glands, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash. A blood test or a spinal fluid sample can confirm the cause.
People who are 60 or older have the highest risk of severe illness, as well as people who have underlying medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease, or who have had an organ transplant.
How is West Nile treated?
There is no vaccine for West Nile virus. Most people can use over-the-counter medications.
Bite protection: How to avoid mosquito, ant bites, bee stings and how to treat them when they happen
How can you get rid of mosquitoes in your yard?
Dump out any source of standing water.
Regularly clean out anything that needs to have water, such as a bird bath. Use mosquito dunks or mosquito fish in ponds to eat the mosquito larvae. Make sure rain barrels are covered.
Move potted plants indoors. Create drains in planter boxes to avoid standing water.
Look for drainage problems in your yard and fix them with a French drain.
Plant lemon balm, mint, chrysanthemums, marigolds, basil, garlic, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary and lemongrass around your yard. Or use oils and candles with those scents to discourage mosquitoes.
Scatter coffee grounds in the soil wherever there have been drainage problems. They deprive the eggs in the soil of oxygen.
Install lights around the yard that mosquitoes don't like, such as LED lights, yellow bug lights or sodium lamps.
Use a fan or fans on the patio to discourage mosquitoes from flocking there.
Hire a professional service to treat your yard. Make sure the employees know whether you have pets or kids who crawl around in the yard.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: First case of West Nile virus found in Austin: What to know
