The battle against the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus (WNV) is ramping up in Carrollton, as confirmed by the Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS), with a series of positive tests from collected samples marking an uptick in the virus's presence. These findings have precipitated a response by the City of Carrollton's Animal Services, which will undertake ground-based spraying in the affected areas, to halt the proliferation of virus-carrying mosquitoes and ensure public safety, as per the City of Carrollton, Texas.
Originally, DCHHS reported the season's first positive WNV sample from area 6B, which is designated between Belt Line Road, Josey Lane, Keller Springs Road, and Carrollton’s eastern City limits, but as mosquito season has progressed, several other areas have become points of concern, including management areas 1A, 3A, 5A, 5B, and 7A/B - these locations straddle significant chunks of the Carrollton city map hampering the residents' sense of tranquility with the threat of viral infection. Weather permitting, spraying efforts began on June 25 and will follow through to July 24, with active measures employed between the hours of 9 p.m. and completion, avoiding times of high wind or inclement weather conditions.
Cory Heiple, Carrollton's Environmental Services Director, implores the public to practice the recommended '4Ds': using DEET-based repellants or alternatives like picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus; donning ample, light-colored clothing; draining standing water areas around the domicile; and limiting outdoor exposure during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes exhibit peak activity. These measures have been underlined as critical personal preventative steps amid the community-wide spraying campaign.
