Protect Yourself from West Nile this Fourth of July

Protect Yourself from West Nile this Fourth of July

Published on July 03, 2024

The 2024 mosquito season continues, and Tarrant County Public Health has confirmed numerous positive West Nile Virus results from mosquito trap sites throughout Fort Worth. West Nile Virus, and other mosquito-borne diseases, can cause serious health complications. Keeping mosquitoes at bay is crucial, especially as many of us will be enjoying outdoor activities for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.

What You Can Do

While you and your family are out celebrating, make sure to take these simple steps to protect yourselves. On the day of festivities, don't forget to:

• Use insect repellent with one of these active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon/eucalyptus or other EPA-approved repellent.
• Wear long-sleeves and long pants when possible.

When it comes to mosquitoes, prevention is key to reducing mosquito activity throughout the entire mosquito season. Here are some preventative measures you can take:

• Maintain your yard by mowing grass regularly to remove areas for mosquitoes to reset and hide. Keep greenery trimmed and eliminate yard waste.
• Remove standing water from gardening tools, pet bowls, gutters, etc., especially after rainfall.
• Tightly cover water storage containers, such as rain barrels.
• Maintain your swimming pool, keeping it clean and covered when not in use.

What the City Does

The City of Fort Worth also works to help keep residents safe during mosquito season.

Each year, the City:

• Provides residents with free DEET spray, upon request.
• Applies mosquito larvicide to areas of the City with known standing water issues.
• Sets out weekly mosquito traps across the City to for testing purposes.
• Notifies the public of positive test results or potential mosquito-borne disease concerns.
• Conducts mosquito spraying in neighborhoods with repeat positive test results.
• Provides free educational material and resources.

Mosquito Spray Areas

If a specific mosquito trap site receives multiple positive test results for mosquito-borne diseases, the City of Fort Worth will conduct a mosquito spray in the surrounding neighborhood to combat a potential spread.

To check if a mosquito spray will be conducted in or near your neighborhood, view the interactive West Nile Map on our website at www.fortworthtexas.gov/west-nile-map .

Have a safe, happy, and mosquito-free, Fourth of July!

If you have questions or comments, please reach out to the Consumer Health team at 817-392-7255 or email [email protected].

Visit the City's Mosquito webpage at www.fortworthtexas.gov/mosquitoes for more information about prevention, viruses, and other mosquito-related information.

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• Environment