The City of Irving has received notification of West Nile virus in a sample of mosquitoes collected at Trinity View Athletic Complex, 2221 E. Highway 356. City staff will begin spraying the residential areas near where the mosquito pool was collected in the early morning hours of Aug. 12 to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus to people.
West Nile virus is commonly carried by wild birds, and the virus can be spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. Residents are encouraged to take sensible precautions to avoid mosquito bites. The “Four Ds” should be practiced as follows:
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Dusk/Dawn – be cautious about outdoor activities at sunrise and sunset. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk.
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Dress – consider wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors.
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DEET – use insect repellants that contain the active ingredient DEET.
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Drain – be certain to drain any types of outside containers that hold water.
Bird baths should be dumped and refilled twice weekly.
Irving officials use active surveillance for mosquito-borne illnesses. Each week, trapped female mosquitoes are shipped to the state health department laboratory in Austin to be tested for all known mosquito-transmitted viruses. Irving city staff responds to resident complaints, treats standing water to kill juvenile mosquitoes, and monitors the trapping results of other Dallas County cities as their test results are reported. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocol, the City of Irving conducts mosquito spraying operations when one or more of the following public health conditions becomes known:
1. When mosquito trap counts exceed a preset number.
2. When a trap sample is positive for West Nile virus.
3. When a suspected human case of West Nile virus is reported.
4. When a confirmed human case of West Nile virus is reported.
Residents experiencing significant mosquito activity should report this information to Irving’s mosquito hot line at (972) 721-3755. If dead or dying birds are found in a yard, the address should be reported to the hot line for tracking purposes. The state health department no longer tests dead birds for the virus. West Nile is not spread from dead birds to people or pets; however, residents should use two plastic trash bags turned inside out to pick up dead birds, turn the bags right side out, and place the tied bags in their regular trash bag for disposal.
1. When mosquito trap counts exceed a preset number.
2. When a trap sample is positive for West Nile virus.
3. When a suspected human case of West Nile virus is reported.
4. When a confirmed human case of West Nile virus is reported.
Residents experiencing significant mosquito activity should report this information to Irving’s mosquito hot line at (972) 721-3755. If dead or dying birds are found in a yard, the address should be reported to the hot line for tracking purposes. The state health department no longer tests dead birds for the virus. West Nile is not spread from dead birds to people or pets; however, residents should use two plastic trash bags turned inside out to pick up dead birds, turn the bags right side out, and place the tied bags in their regular trash bag for disposal.
