EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso residents are being urged to clear standing water from their yards following recent rainfall that has increased mosquito activity across the city.
In response to the uptick in mosquitoes, the city’s Vector Control Program is stepping up outreach and prevention efforts by helping residents eliminate places where mosquitoes can breed on their property.
As part of the Vector Control Program, the department said crews aim to boost educational outreach and activity related to removing standing water from common outdoor items such as flowerpots, pet water dishes and buckets.
“Now that the rains have come and the heat is coming in, we’re seeing more breeding. But with the staff that we have, they’re on it. We ask the citizens to take a look at their properties. Many times the breeding may be occurring on their own property, and they’re not aware of that, said Ginny Castaneda, Vector Control supervisor.
She added, “So if they go to their backyard and you know any standing water that has collected, whether it be in children’s toys or the big dog buckets that they fill, toss it,”
City crews are also fogging and conducting similar treatments in outdoor spaces to reduce mosquito breeding, according to vector control officials.
The recent rain and subsequent uptick in mosquitoes comes as two El Paso residents have been diagnosed with neuroinvasive West Nile virus so far this year, leading the City of El Paso Department of Public Health to urge people to take steps to prevent mosquito bites.
On July 14, El Paso health officials said that one patient is a man in his 80s who lives in the 79907 ZIP code and is currently hospitalized. The second patient is a woman in her 60s with significant underlying medical conditions who lives in the 79932 ZIP code and is recovering in a rehabilitation facility.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), West Nile virus is transmitted to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes, which become carriers after feeding on infected birds. Symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and swollen lymph nodes.
“While most West Nile virus infections are mild or cause no symptoms, these cases serve as an important reminder that mosquito bites can lead to serious illness,” said Dr. Hector Ocaranza, the city-county health authority. “Taking simple preventive measures now can significantly reduce your risk and help protect our community.”
To protect against mosquito bites and reduce the spread of disease, Vector Control recommends four D’s:
DEET: Use insect repellents that contain DEET when outdoors.DRESS: Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors.DUSK & DAWN: Take extra care during peak mosquito biting hours, from dusk to dawn, or consider avoiding outdoor activities during those times.DRAIN: Drain standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes and birdbaths. After rains or lawn watering, residents should tip and toss standing water in outdoor spaces.
RECOMMENDED: El Paso confirms 2 neuroinvasive West Nile virus cases this year
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