Posted Date: 8/31/2012 (KELLER, Texas) August 30, 2012
The City of Keller continues to practice the recommended West Nile Virus prevention program measures provided by Tarrant County Public Health. This proactive program combines public education and environmentally responsible mosquito abatement. At this time the program includes treating standing water, testing mosquito samples and educating the public.
City staff have inspected and treated more than 90 reported locations of possible breeding sites, such as residential pools, ponds, drainage sites and other areas of standing water. These locations are treated with a mosquito larvacide designed to eradicate any mosquito larvae for up to 30 days. The location is then added to a list for continued monitoring and possible treatment. Citizens are encouraged to continue reporting possible mosquito breeding locations to the Public Works Department at 817-743-4080 [Call: 817-743-4080] or publicworks@cityofkeller.com.
Keller staff are utilizing mosquito traps throughout the area in order to capture live mosquitoes for testing. Mosquito samples are then taken to the Tarrant County Public Health Lab for testing of the virus. There have been no positive virus carrying mosquitoes found in Keller mosquito traps.
The City continues to provide citizens with information needed to protect themselves and their families from the virus. A website, www.cityofkeller.com/westnile, maintains updated information about the virus and the City’s ongoing prevention efforts. The City’s cable channel is running prevention videos and helpful protection tips. The City of Keller is following Tarrant County's recommendations and is working alongside them to address this very important issue.
Additional preventative measures include distribution of educational pamphlets to homes and businesses within 500 feet of areas reported as having increased mosquito activity and within 1,000 feet of a reported positive human case location.
Positive human cases of West Nile Virus are reported to each city by Tarrant County Public Health. To date, Keller has received reports of nine human cases of West Nile Virus and no reported deaths.
During a City Council budget meeting on Wednesday, August 28, the City Manager reviewed Keller’s West Nile Prevention Program activities including the larvacide program and community outreach efforts.
At the City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 4, City staff will present a review of Keller’s West Nile Prevention Program. Also, a representative from the Tarrant County Public Health will provide a county-wide update of activities and future plans. The meeting is open to the public and citizens are encouraged to attend.
The meeting is at 7 p.m. at Keller Town Hall, 1100 Bear Creek Parkway, Keller, Texas 76248. For more information, please contact James Whitt, environmental services coordinator, at 817-743-4080 [Call: 817-743-4080] or jwhitt@cityofkeller.com.
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