Health expert warns of West Nile threat in McLennan County

While people all over the world are concerned about the Zika virus, there's an older, more familiar mosquito-borne illness that has health officials concerned in central Texas.

Four people have gotten sick from mosquito bites this summer, and three of those people were infected with West Nile virus.  

A doctor for the McLennan County Public Health District, Farley Verner said West Nile is a big threat to our area because mosquitoes infected with that virus are in central Texas.

"As far as actual risk to residents the greater risk is with West Nile virus...In McLennan County we have both the mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus," Farley said. " we've had cases of West Nile this summer, and that's going to be cases that are locally acquired from mosquitoes that are in the area."

Farley said mosquitoes carrying West Nile are most likely to bite at dawn or at dusk. He said the best way to protect yourself from mosquitoes carrying the virus is to wear insect repellant and dump any standing water. 

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