Denton County Public Health (DCPH) has announced a somewhat troubling uptick in West Nile Virus cases and the second fatality attributed to the virus this year. A recent release detailed that four new human cases of West Nile Virus have been reported across different localities, underscoring an ongoing public health concern. The second death related to the illness occurred in Sanger, following the virus's neuroinvasive course.
Residents who fell ill were located in spread-out Denton County areas, including the southeast quadrant of unincorporated Denton County, Sanger, Trophy Club, and Flower Mound. Showing an increase in vector-borne disease, these incidents raise the total number of cases to fourteen, with two deaths in Denton County for the season. To protect the privacy of the individuals affected, limited personal details have been released.
In light of the persistent mosquito activity and the rising impact of the West Nile Virus, Juan Rodriguez, the Assistant Director and Chief Epidemiologist at DCPH, stressed the importance of community vigilance. "With the continued activity of West Nile Virus mosquitoes, the announcement of the second WNV-related death, and additional human cases in Denton County," said Rodriguez, as per the Denton County website, "we urge community members to continue to be proactive in reducing mosquito breeding sites and using repellents. These straightforward steps are effective ways to safeguard your community and yourself from mosquito-borne diseases."
The health department is advising residents to take proactive measures. Among the recommended actions to prevent mosquito breeding and bites are draining any standing water in the surroundings such as bird baths and clogged rain gutters, ideally using BTI briquettes in water that cannot be drained. Additional advice includes dressing in long sleeves and pants for time spent outdoors and opting for EPA-registered repellents that contain active ingredients like DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
