In light of a recently confirmed West Nile Virus (WNV) case, the city of Midland has urged residents to take precautions.
A September 4 Facebook post by the city stated that WNV is transmitted to humans via mosquito bites from mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. The post clarified that humans cannot spread the illness to others.
City epidemiologist Tyler Collins said in a Facebook video that the city conducts mosquito surveillance testing where live mosquitoes are captured and sent to the state for testing. According to Collins, this process helps identify earlier in the season if WNV is circulating, with the first human case detected in May.
City of Midland epidemiologist Tyler Collins.
| Facebook
Collins added that August and September are peak times for WNV, and while it’s something people need to be aware of, panic is unnecessary. According to the post, 80% of infected individuals present no symptoms.
The city urged citizens to rid their properties of any standing water, such as in old tires, buckets, or any containers that hold water. Its parks and transportation teams have used "dunks" to eliminate mosquito larvae in standing water throughout parks and right-of-way areas, according to the post.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while there’s no specific treatment for WNV, rest, fluids, and pain medications may relieve symptoms.