West Nile Virus is quickly becoming a concern across the state as 17 deaths in Texas have been blamed on the mosquito-borne disease as of Wednesday and 381 have been sickened by it since the beginning of 2012.   Brown County Health officials are taking the issue seriously and have been monitoring it for the past two months according to Brown County Sanitation Inspector Paul Coghlan.

Local officials are taking a proactive approach in controlling the mosquito population which spread the disease, although no sickness or deaths have occurred in Brown County this year, Coghlan said.  Just today, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Jodie Armstrong reported that two cases of WNV have been identified in Abilene and San Angelo.

“We have had a case now in Abilene and San Angelo, so we are surrounded,” said Armstrong Wednesday morning.  “Our departments have been on this heavy for two months, bombing certain areas and keeping watch.  Every Thursday night we go out to drop briquettes and spray.”

Armstrong stated that health officials encourage residents to cut high grasses and empty items holding water that could be environments for mosquitoes to live.

“Dallas County has 10 deaths associated to West Nile Virus and Abilene maybe has 1 case of WNV,” said Coghlan in an email.  “No cases have been reported here in Brown County but we continue to monitor all problem areas and encourage residents to follow the 4 Ds:

• Use insect repellent that contains DEET, Picaridin, lemon-eucalyptus oil or use two percent soybean-oil products (Pictured left is an area that the city has been treating in Brownwood.  Coghlan explained that the water was the color of coffee or darker and was loaded with mosquito larva .

  Below is another picture which shows an abandoned property within the city that at the time of its discovery had a solid amount of mosquitoes covering a 2 block area before treating the pond, according to Coghlan.  Within seven days after treatment, the amount was down to nearly nonexistent Coghlan said.

  “This was one of the worst areas I have ever seen in town so far this year,” said Coghlan.

  Pictured above is a body mosquito infested water that health officials have treated.  Photos contributed.

  See link below for a previous article about the Health Department’s approach to mosquito treatment this summer.

  Health Department Releases Tips for Battling Mosquitoes