Overview
- Routine mosquito trapping has flagged West Nile–positive pools in several jurisdictions this week, with Austin Public Health confirming a positive pool in ZIP 78733 and Davis County reporting detections across multiple cities.
- Fort Bend County declared a local public‑health emergency and completed aerial spraying after confirmed positives rose to 32, and officials say they will continue night‑time ground spraying and close surveillance rather than additional aerial rounds.
- Two human cases have been confirmed in the Houston area, one in Harris County and one in Montgomery County, signaling that local mosquito transmission has reached people as well as insect pools.
- Health agencies are urging the public to follow the "Four Ds"—limit outdoor time from dusk to dawn, dress in long clothing, use EPA‑registered repellents, and drain standing water—because most infections are mild but a small share can cause severe neurologic illness.
- Officials attribute the surge to heavy spring rains followed by heat and humidity that boost Culex mosquito breeding, and they say ongoing trapping, pooled PCR testing, and targeted control will guide further responses.