A fourth case of West Nile virus has been reported to the City of El Paso Department of Public Health. The patient is a man in his 30’s who lives in the Lower Valley. The case comes as El Paso continues to see rainy weather conditions which can create breeding conditions for the mosquitoes that carry the disease. This is why health officials continue to urge residents to take personal measures to remove standing water outside their homes.
“With both West Nile and Zika viruses posing a threat to our community’s health, we want to make sure that residents practice the ‘Tip and Toss’ efforts we have been promoting for several months,” said Robert Resendes, Public Health Director. “With funding for Zika prevention at a standstill, it’s all the more important that we take personal initiative to halt the spread of mosquito-borne diseases and protect ourselves and families from mosquito bites.”
The Department of Public Health continues to recommend other mosquito bite prevention tips including:
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
- Drain standing water both inside and outside your home – Tip and Toss!
- Stay in cool places with air conditioning and window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside
- Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthane-diol (Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old)
As of Sep. 6, the state of Texas has reported 108 West Nile virus cases, including 68 cases of neuroinvasive disease.
