The Williamson County Cities and Health District (WCCHD) has notified Taylor that a mosquito trap sample collected in Murphy Park has tested positive for West Nile Virus.
This testing is part of the WCCHD’s Integrated Vector Management program which through surveillance, control, prevention and education, aims to prevent human infection of mosquito-borne diseases.
The positive tests were confirmed in lab results received Aug. 31.
The positive sample was taken from a trap site near Murphy Park on Veteran’s Drive Aug. 29.
The last date a positive sample was collected in Taylor was at this location in June 2021. The city has coordinated truck-mounted spraying to occur on the evenings of Sunday, Sept. 3 and Monday, Sept. 4.
Since testing began in May, 19 mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile virus across Williamson County. One human case has been reported in Williamson County to date this year, and there have been 26 human cases reported in Texas this year.
Mosquitoes breed in standing water, needing as little as one teaspoon. By draining all sources of standing water in and around your property, you reduce the number of places mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed.
WCCHD encourages residents in affected areas to be a part of the solution by eliminating insect breeding areas and larvae before they develop into adult, flying mosquitoes.
Standing water can be treated with EPAapproved larvicides that are available for retail purchase. Larvicides are products used to kill immature mosquitoes before they become adults. Larvicides are applied directly to water sources that hold mosquito eggs, larvae or pupae.
