City of Arlington health officials urge residents to continue to take precautions as West Nile Virus season is still not over. This week, Tarrant County Public Health, TCPH, informed city officials of a second person who has been diagnosed with West Nile Virus. Since March, the City has closely monitored mosquito traps that are strategically located throughout Arlington. City staff is continuing surveillance for pools of standing water and larviciding where mosquitoes can breed.

Employees and contractors have conducted routine trapping at 21 locations and larviciding at 135 locations throughout the City since the beginning of the season. To date, the City has addressed more than 120 citizen concerns regarding possible WNV breeding areas at standing water locations and known vacant homes.

Targeted ground spraying occurs in the area where a mosquito trap contains a positive sample. Since March, Arlington has had six positive samples that have resulted in targeted ground spraying actions. Human cases of WNV do not prompt spraying because the incubation period for West Nile could be up to two weeks and the infection could have occurred in another location. Arlington had 66 human cases of WNV in 2012 and two human case in 2013, thus far. WNV is a priority for the City, and it has taken proactive measures since the beginning of the season to protect residents. We ask residents to continue to take precautions. Please click here for more information.