West Nile virus threat is growing in Tarrant County, health officials warn
Tarrant County Public Health says the threat to West Nile, especially in northeastern Tarrant County, is rising.
FORT WORTH, Texas – Tarrant County Public Health says the threat to West Nile, especially in northeastern Tarrant County, is rising.
So far only one person has died. But recent tests of mosquito cases in the area show a positivity rate of 60 percent.
Tarrant county leaders are trying to prevent the very possibility of dealing with two threats to public health at the same time.
Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja gave perhaps his worst West Nile illness to residents since 2016.
‘People today have to go to every big box store of your choice and get them on hose-based sprinklers and spray their backyards. That is the first thing, ”said Dr Taneja. “Normally, that’s the last thing I tell people to do, because I want to prevent it? Remove from standing water. Wear DEET. That may come later. I need you to take action today. ”
Dr Taneja points out that the threat posed by mosquitoes is affecting the northeastern Tarrant county the least. Positive results from the test pool are there at 60 percent, which is 10 percent up from last week.
“Public areas are treated. But on your own property, you are the ones who will have to help us, ‘he said. “Otherwise, we’re looking at issues that will come down here in the next few weeks.”
One Tarrant County resident has died on the West Nile this year, and another is currently ill.
Judge Glen Whitley and the county commissioners discussed the need for urgency.
This trusted health concern happens when schools reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The province recently held a virtual meeting with more than 100 people from different school regions.
“There’s always a positive case, public health will participate,” Whitley said. ‘They will pursue this matter from the beginning until it is resolved. They will also do the contact tracking. ”
Among the many specifications, there is the need to restrict the movement of students when they return to campuses.
“As a routine practice while COVID-19 is an active issue, we need to limit it,” said Dr Taneja. ‘Because what if that child turns out to be a positive thing. Now that you have all of these places within the school, you need to get in touch with tracking. But if the movement is limited, you can limit it. ”
The province’s efforts to further slow down the spread of COVID-19 are continuing, and now a social media campaign is underway to share the message about West Nile prevention.
