Light rain this summer has enticed mosquitoes into neighborhoods where people are watering lawns. The first Culex mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile Virus were trapped in the 77373 ZIP code in Spring.

The first human case of the virus was confirmed on May 16 in a Huffman man living in ZIP code 77336. A trap had been placed at the intersection Beckman Drive at Fantasia Drive.

Last week, trapped mosquitoes tested positive at the intersection of Baton Pass at Relay Road in the Walden subdivision in Atascocita. No dead birds have been found to date.

“It’s important that people don’t sweep grass clippings from their yard into the sewers,” said Sandy Kachur, spokesperson for Harris County Public Health and Environmental services.

“The mosquitoes are looking for still pools of water and vegetation. Unclean storm sewers can become a ‘Club Med’ for mosquitoes.”

Kachur said that trapped mosquitoes are grouped in sets of 50, then ground up and tested. One infected mosquito will result in a positive test. A positive test activates sprays in the area. Ideally, an area that tests positive is sprayed at night three times a week. Adjacent areas are sprayed once a week. The county will then continue to check the traps in the area monthly.

Kachur said that this not an unusual mosquito season and that people should always take precautions.

Precautions include: wearing long pants and long-sleeve shirts when outdoors, particularly at dawn and dusk; routinely wearing insect repellents; replacing worn screens; and emptying and refilling pet water bowls at least twice per week.

“If a person experiences flu-like symptoms and he knows he has been exposed to mosquitoes, he should ask his doctor to test him for West Nile Virus,” said Kachur.