Dallas County is stepping up its efforts to look for signs of yet another threat transmitted by mosquitoes.
Chikungunya virus causes high fever and severe joint pain.
"It kind of puts you like in a chicken [posture] almost, where you basically have these types of arthritic pains in your body," said Zachary Thompson, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services.
More than a dozen special mosquito traps are now set up around Dallas County, tracking the mosquitoes that can only transmit the virus to people after biting someone already infected with it.
They are different than those that can carry the West Nile virus and appear black with white bands.
"These are para-domestic mosquitoes, which means they live in close association to man," said Patrick Prather, with Municipal Mosquito. "They breed in our trash."
Now, trash and other debris carried downstream by recent flooding is providing the perfect breeding grounds for the mosquitoes, experts say.
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"These are creating problems for us in these neighborhoods all over North Texas right now," said Prather.
So far, 12 cases of chikungunya have been reported in Dallas County, but all of the people became infected in other countries.
In the United States, only Florida so far has seen any locally transmitted cases.
- 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.
