A pox on West Nile

They say bad news comes in threes. So on the heels of Covid-19 and monkeypox, it should come as no surprise that a positive mosquito pool for West Nile virus has been discovered in the 78721 ZIP code. While no humans have yet tested positive for the mosquito-borne illness, Austin Public Health says the positive pool indicates that “the virus is in our community.” West Nile is generally transmitted via the bite of an infected mosquito; hence the importance of eliminating pools of standing or stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed. Marcel Elizondo, interim assistant director for Environmental Health Services, said in a press release, “The monitoring of mosquito pools is key to keeping the public informed and safe, especially when many people are spending time outside. By removing standing water and using prevention tools we keep ourselves, our families and communities safe.” Find out how to protect yourself from West Nile here.