Denton County health officials are reporting the county's third human case of West Nile virus of the 2016 season Monday.
The person lives in Trophy Club and was diagnosed with the more serious West Nile neuroinvasive disease, according to Denton County Public Health.
Chief Epidemiologist Juan Rodriguez stressed that residents can play a large role in reducing their risk.
"It is important for residents to drain standing water around their homes, take precautions to prevent mosquito bites while outdoors, dress appropriately and use DEET or other EPA-approved repellents," Rodriguez said.
- 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.
