Fort Worth is still in a holding pattern as it awaits test results for trapped mosquitoes to determine the city's next course of action in its fight against West Nile virus.
On Tuesday morning, city workers picked up mosquito traps set up in the 76104 and 76110 zip codes to see how effective this past weekend's ground-spraying effort was on the adult mosquito population that was carrying the virus.
The ground spraying was the first done by the city in more than 20 years.
The city should have the results Wednesday of earlier trapping work done in the 76137 and 76244 zip codes. They anticipate lab results will show more mosquitos in north Fort Worth are carrying the virus. The area has also seen a growing number of people with West Nile virus.
More than 100 people attended an informational meeting at the Summerglen Library Branch Tuesday night in north Fort Worth about whether they favor or disapprove the use of ground spraying. But city officials really hope to educate people about the problems in the area and how to combat the virus.
"All of our questions were answered and then some.. it was great information and people really do need to take it seriously. The more we know, the more we can battle it," said resident Karen Hayworth.
Some neighbors want the city to spray without waiting for test results.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
"It's pretty scary, especially when it's affecting people over 50 years old, and we're definitely over that, so it's a real concern for us,” says resident Joyce Nelson.
A few neighbors are against the spraying and believe the insecticide does more harm than good.
City workers distributed 4,000 letters door to door on Tuesday and set up the city's informational trailer in a Walmart parking lot.
The city continues to push education and prevention as the best ways to fight the disease.
The rainy weather led some residents along Basswood Boulevard to use the trailer like a drive-thru to pick up literature and educational materials, while others, such as Carolyn Pointer walked in.
"I have a youngster who gets eaten alive by mosquitoes, so I need everything I can get to take care of it," she said.
Pointer said news of the four deaths in Tarrant County from the virus and of the total 212 human cases is concerning.
"I saw the little girl on TV last week that still couldn't walk -- that concerns me," she said. "Spray away."
Many residents said they're aware of the virus.
"I think about it all the time, that every time I walk outside I'm going to get bit by some mosquito that has West Nile," David Adamas said.
Adamas is also in favor of the spraying but is also following the city's prevention tips.
"Standing water, yeah, we keep it clear," he said.
The two zip codes east of Interstate 35W have seen an increase in human cases and positive mosquito samples.
The city has only sprayed around the Medical District and near the zoo. Right now, no additional ground spraying is planned, but that could change based on the latest test results.
