Fight the bite

With the recent storms leaving puddles of standing water that serve as ideal nurseries for pesky mosquitoes, Austin Public Health is reminding people to take safeguards to protect themselves from West Nile virus, which is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. According to a recent news release, four human West Nile cases have been confirmed in Travis County and the health department vector control program “has identified a second positive mosquito pool for West Nile virus in the 78759 ZIP code.” That shows “that the West Nile virus is in our community and precautions should be followed.” Marcel Elizondo, the interim assistant director for Environmental Health Services, said removing standing water is one of the most effective methods for keeping communities safe as it prevents mosquitoes from laying eggs and reproducing. You can find more information about West Nile and how to “fight the bite” here.