The city of Lewisville is reporting its first positive West Nile virus mosquito trap of 2016, and ground spraying is set for Tuesday and Wednesday.
The sample was collected April 28 near the 2600 block of Lake Ridge Drive, in northeastern Lewisville, the city said in a press release Monday.
Lewisville is outsourcing its testing this year for the first time to Vector Disease Control International, saying that the private company has its own certified lab and technicians who can confirm test results quicker than the state health department.
Ground spraying is scheduled for a half-mile radius surrounding the 2600 block of Lake Ridge Drive, beginning at 9 p.m. on both Tuesday, May 3, and Wednesday, May 4.
- 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.
