Austin (KXAN) – with the approaching summer, as well as mosquitoes and the threat of Western Nile virus.
the Western Nile virus is a disease transmitted by mosquitoesIt is usually spread by the affected mosquito bite. In 2024, he saw Texas 176 humanitarian cases from Nile West According to the center of control and protecting it.
Seven cases were in 2024 in Travis Province, two in Hayes County, and two in Williamson Province.
It is important to note that there can be more cases than reported, as there is a delay in reporting CDC. Some states and territories may publish their data early in the Center for Disease Control.
Jason Fritz works with Williamson County and Cities Health (WCCD) to collect mosquitoes, and put different traps in different cities.
“They have been appointed only for only 12 to 18 hours, and most of the procedures that these traps get overnight,” said Fritz.
Fritz analyzes how mosquitoes and mosquitoes are fluctuated.
Once Fritz collected for mosquitoes, it is sent to the Ministry of Health Services (DSHS) for the test. Bethani Pauling supervises the mosquito virus test in DSHS.
“When we have positive, we call this positive mosquitoes.” “When we refer to mosquitoes, this is a tube of mosquitoes that came from a specific trap on a specific day that was tested and made positive for a virus.”
The mosquito testing process consists of many steps, such as freezing, sorting, mosquito grinding, RNA extraction, etc. If there is a positive result of the virus, the Bolling team will notify the city of the place where mosquitoes arose.
“The mosquitoes are the bloodiest on this planet,” said Bolling. “By conducting monitoring and providing these services to local judicial states – they can monitor mosquitoes in their local region.
“Once they give us these results, I will use this information to provide recommendations for our city officials,” said Fritz.
In the KXAN viewing area, there have been no positive cases of the Western Nile so far this year.