Fort Bend Declares Mosquito Emergency After Heavy Rains, Hospital Warns of West Nile Risk
Updated
Updated · coveringkaty.com · Jun 29
Fort Bend Declares Mosquito Emergency After Heavy Rains, Hospital Warns of West Nile Risk
3 articles · Updated · coveringkaty.com · Jun 29
Summary
Fort Bend County residents were urged to use proven mosquito protection after Houston Methodist West warned that a population surge has raised the risk of bites and illnesses including West Nile virus.
Weeks of heavy rain left standing water in ditches, yards, gutters and containers across Katy, Fulshear, Sugar Land, Richmond and Rosenberg, creating ideal breeding conditions and prompting a public health emergency.
County officials have been using aerial spraying to cut adult mosquito numbers as the region moves into peak summer mosquito season.
Doctors said repellents with DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, along with long sleeves and avoiding dawn and dusk exposure, offer meaningful protection, while citronella candles and bug zappers do not.
West Nile remains the leading U.S. mosquito-borne illness, with the most severe complications concentrated among adults over 60 and people with weakened immune systems.