The count of Dallas County mosquito traps testing positive this summer for West Nile virus grew to 172 Tuesday.
In the past few days, three infected mosquito pools were reported in the 75234 zip code of Farmers Branch.
At Oran Good Park in Farmers Branch, men in a senior league played softball Tuesday morning.
“We wear sunscreen and some guys put on bug spray, but most times we put on sunscreen,” said Assistant Coach Bob Eaves with the visiting DeSoto Dukes.
The minimum age for players in the league is 55 and seniors, considered a greater risk for West Nile virus, are strongly urged to wear bug repellent by health experts.
“With the additional data about the traps showing positive over in this area, it should make people think twice about it,” said retired pharmacist Carey Hall, a player on the Farmers Branch team.
Hall said he did not wear insect repellent.
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“I would say the people out here running around and playing in this hot humid environment hopefully have a better chance of being healthy and in shape. However, one little bite can make a difference,” Hall said.
Farmers Branch will use trucks to spray all residential areas of the town Tuesday and Wednesday night between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Neighborhood spraying is also scheduled in Dallas and Arlington locations.
Dallas County Health Department officials said Tuesday the increase in positive traps may have peaked.
“We anticipate we’re actually in decline in terms of the bell-shaped curve of our typical historical West Nile season,” Dr. Christopher Perkins said.
Just two human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Dallas County this year.
“Fortunately, we’ve have a very mild season as far as virus infection among our citizens,” Perkins said.
Health Director Zachary Thompson said prevention measures may be paying off and it is too soon to stop with so many areas still reporting infected mosquitoes.
“We constantly have to say that we’re not out of the West Nile season yet and use your mosquito repellent. And let’s look at the data when we go into the next couple of weeks and then we’ll be ready to say where we are,” Thompson said.
