Chikungunya Case, Positive West Nile Traps Confirmed in Plano

Plano will spray for mosquitoes Thursday after learning both a resident returned home from a trip abroad with the chikungunya virus and that a mosquito trap at a city park tested positive for West Nile virus.

The person who contracted chikungunya had recently traveled to another country and returned home with the virus. The patient lives near Plano Parkway and 15th Street and that area will be sprayed on Thursday night.

• [2018 DFW WNV] North Texas Ground Spraying Schedule: 2018

Further information about the person's identity and location is not expected to be released.

Earlier this week, Garland also reported a human case of chikungunya in a resident who recently traveled to Mexico. That person is no longer contagious.

• Garland Resident Contracts Chikungunya in Mexico

Chikungunya is transmitted person to person through mosquitoes. The virus causes high fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain and a rash. The virus does not often result in death but can be severe and disabling.

Plano's Environmental Health Department also confirmed Wednesday seven mosquitoes trapped near Bob Woodruff Park tested positive for West Nile virus.

Crews will spray the park for mosquitoes Thursday, beginning at 9 p.m.

Plano reported its first positive test for West Nile last week. There have been no human cases of West Nile in 2015.

• Dress in long sleeves, pants when outside: For extra protection, spray thin clothing with repellent.
• DEET: Make sure this ingredient is in your insect repellent.
• Drain standing water in your yard and neighborhood: Mosquitoes can develop in any water stagnant for more than three days.

It has been recommended in the past that to avoid mosquito bites you should avoid being outdoors during Dusk and Dawn (the 4 Ds). While this is true for mosquitoes that commonly carry the West Nile virus, other types of mosquitoes that are more likely to carry Zika, dengue and chikungunya are active during the day. When outdoors, no matter what time of day, adjust your dress accordingly and wear insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus as your first line of defense against insect bites.