Mosquito Borne Illnesses Texans Should Know About

West Nile is the mosquito-borne illness Texans are most likely to actually encounter, because it spreads here every year rather than arriving from abroad. It is carried mainly by Culex mosquitoes, which bite around dusk and after dark and breed in stagnant, polluted water.

The CDC notes that most people who get infected feel nothing at all. About one in five develop fever, headache, body aches, and fatigue. A small fraction, often older adults or people with weakened immune systems, develop serious disease affecting the nervous system. There is no vaccine for people and no specific treatment, so avoiding bites is the whole game.

Zika made headlines a decade ago and has since faded from the news, but the mosquito that carries it, Aedes aegypti, lives right here in South Texas. Most Zika infections are mild or symptom-free, with a rash, fever, joint pain, and red eyes when symptoms do appear.

The real concern with Zika is pregnancy. Infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects, which is why public health guidance focuses on protecting pregnant women from bites. Local spread in Texas has been rare in recent years, but the capable mosquito is present, so it stays on the list.

Dengue and chikungunya are both carried by Aedes mosquitoes and both cause an abrupt, miserable run of fever and severe joint or muscle pain. Dengue is sometimes called breakbone fever for exactly that reason, and severe cases can be dangerous.

In Texas, most cases turn up in travelers who picked up the virus elsewhere. The catch is that once an infected person is home, a local Aedes mosquito can bite them and then pass it on, which is how small local outbreaks start. That is why bringing down the Aedes population in residential areas matters beyond just comfort.

For West Nile, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face the highest odds of serious illness. For Zika, pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy have the most reason to be careful. Dengue can hit children and previously infected people hard.

For most healthy adults, a mosquito-borne infection is more likely to mean a rough week than a hospital stay. Still, you cannot tell by looking which mosquito is carrying what, and the people you most want to protect are often the ones in your own home. That tilts the math toward prevention.

The defense is the same for every one of these viruses, because they all come down to a bite. Use EPA-registered repellent when you are outside at dawn and dusk, wear long sleeves when you can, and keep screens in good repair so mosquitoes stay outdoors.

Around the house, cut the population at the source. Drain standing water weekly, clear gutters, and keep the yard from turning into resting habitat. Professional treatment goes after the adults where they hide and the larvae where they breed. By treating the standing water where the Aedes species tied to Zika, dengue, and chikungunya lay their eggs, we kill the next generation before it can hatch and bite. Fewer mosquitoes living near your home means fewer chances for any of these illnesses to find your family.