Municipalities gearing up for possible West Nile virus battle

Last year, Texas saw an unprecedented outbreak in West Nile virus that resulted in Denton County declaring a health emergency and ultimately aerial spraying of adulticide in many North Texas cities.

This year, local municipalities are vowing to be prepared ahead of time.

Health officials in Flower Mound and Lewisville have already outlined their plans for addressing West Nile virus and the mosquitoes that carry it.

One reason is because of how serious the problem was a year ago. In 2012, there were 1,834 human cases of the virus in Texas. In Denton County, there were 184 human cases. There were 34 cases in Lewisville and 28 in Flower Mound. There were two West Nile virus-related deaths in Denton County in 2012 and 86 statewide.

Officials also acknowledge the mild winter the North Texas area experienced this year, which resembles the weather leading up to the 2012 outbreak.

"That [the mild winter] is definitely something we’re keeping an eye on," said Matt Woods, Flower Mound’s director of environmental services. "It’s hard to pinpoint why we had such an active West Nile virus season last year, but what happened last season, coupled with the mild winter we had, is a concern because we didn’t have the hard freeze to kill off the mosquitoes."

Mosquitoes become infected with the virus after they have bitten a bird carrying the disease. It is then carried to humans when the infected mosquito bites a person. Those who get West Nile fever may experience mild symptoms, but others get the neuroinvasive disease, in which the symptoms are more severe and can be fatal.

Denton County officials are upping their efforts this year, which includes expanding their education targets. Last year the county focused on the "four D’s" – avoid being outside at dusk, dress in long sleeves, use mosquito repellent that includes DEET and drain standing water. This year, the county is including source reduction tips.

The county is also being more proactive with mosquito surveillance.

In Flower Mound, efforts are beginning earlier with several approaches. Storm drain surveillance and larvicide application has already begun, whereas last year it began in July or August.

Last year, trapping and surveillance began in June. But thanks to new system, Flower Mound will begin those efforts April 1.

For the first time, the town will be using Rapid Analyte Measurement Platform (RAMP), an in-house unit that can test for West Nile virus and allows for same day testing results. The unit costs $3,200, plus the cost of each sampling kit.

There are often limitations when sending the mosquito samples to the state, such as when they can be sent off and how quickly results can be sent back. The state won’t start testing samples until May. Woods said the RAMP system would supplement the state testing methods.

Flower Mound will also begin its free larvicide program in April. In 2012, the town gave away 764 larvicide packages to residents, but the program began in early August.

The town will also kick off its public awareness campaign in April, about two months earlier than it did a year ago. It will use the town’s website, social media, FMTV and utility bills to give residents updates on the situation and offer tips on how to reduce the mosquito population around their homes.

In addition, Flower Mound has purchased a Phoenix 500 ATV mounted sprayer to improve spraying efforts. The town will use an ATV from the parks department for targeted spraying events.

"It will be used to spray on public property that our truck sprayers can’t easily get to," Woods said. "It will be helpful to get behind the park areas and the trail system."

Ground spraying for adult mosquitoes will continue when triggered by a positive mosquito pool of West Nile virus and/or a cluster of human cases of West Nile virus.

In Lewisville, officials are also spreading the word early.

"Now that people are getting out into their gardens, we’re telling them to start looking at their pots, flower beds and drainage areas that would be attractive to mosquitoes," said Sherry Harper, health and animal services manager for the city.

Harper said the city would also set traps out earlier, likely the first week of April. Typically they are set out the first week of May. Though the state won't start testing until May, Harper said Lewisville is considering using an independent testing company through April.

Lewisville, too, offered free larvicide dunks to residents in 2012, and Harper said the city would do that again this year.

"Residents were able to come to Central Fire Station on three different days to pick them up, though the turnout wasn't as great as we had hoped it would be," Harper said, adding that the program will start earlier in 2013. "Next week, we're going to meet and discuss if that's still the best way to hand them out."

She said the city was able to take the extra dunks that residents did not use and put them out at about 1,600 homes in high-risk areas.

Harper said the city is discussing other mosquito-reduction alternatives, such as using more equipment from last year.

But while some ideas are still on the table, getting a late start is not one of the options.

"Nobody expected what we had last year," Harper said. "So our leaders are being cautious. We are going to proceed as if we have a repeat of last year. We need to beef up surveillance and air on the side of caution so that if we have it, we’ll be prepared.”

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