News

West Nile case reported; Precinct 3 increases mosquito spraying

By: Commissioner James Noack

| Published 06/27/2023

THE WOODLANDS, TX - Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack's office has released a statement about the ongoing mosquito spraying efforts.

Q & A with Commissioner James Noack

“Why is the county spraying for mosquitoes?”

A mosquito sample from the 77386 ZIP code has tested positive for the West Nile virus. This is the first sample from Precinct 3 to test positive during the 2023 mosquito season. The West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that has been found throughout Montgomery County since the early 2000s. This sample was collected as part of the ongoing mosquito surveillance activities carried out by Commissioner Noack’s Mosquito Abatement Program.

“Why does this matter?”

A mosquito sample that tests positive for a mosquito-borne disease indicates that the mosquitoes in that area could pass that disease on to the humans they bite. In a small number of cases, this results in severe illness that can have a lasting impact on the patient’s quality of life. The goal of the Mosquito Abatement Program is to minimize the risk that these mosquito-borne diseases pose to the residents of Precinct 3.

“What will the county do in response?”

When disease activity is detected in a local mosquito population, the Mosquito Abatement Team initiates a treatment protocol that includes the spraying of residential streets in the affected area. Truck-based foggers are used to spray a fine mist of chemical designed to kill adult mosquitoes that can carry and transmit disease. This spraying takes place in the late evening and early morning, as disease carrying mosquitoes are most active during these times.

Other control efforts include the identification and elimination of mosquito breeding sites on public property, and the treatment of any such sites that cannot be eliminated. The Mosquito Abatement Team also offers free property evaluations to help residents identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites on their own property.

“What can I do?”

Residents should consult the Mosquito Abatement Map found at precinct3.org/mosquito to see if and when spraying will take place in their neighborhood. When spraying is scheduled for an area, residents should avoid any outdoor activity during the listed spray times. This helps to ensure a complete treatment of the area, as the spray trucks have to stop spraying in the presence of pedestrians. Pedestrians that encounter a county-owned truck that is currently spraying for mosquitoes should move to the side of the road until the truck has passed. All mosquito applicators working for Commissioner Noack’s Office are trained and required to stop spraying in the presence of pedestrians; the applicator must wait until they are a safe distance away before they can continue spraying.

Please contact justin.fausek@mctx.org for more information.