West Nile Virus in Tarrant County: What Homeowners Should Know

West Nile virus is the main mosquito-borne health risk in Tarrant County, carried mostly by the southern house mosquito and peaking in August and September. Most people infected have no symptoms at all, a smaller share get a fever, and a very small share get seriously ill.

Keeping the risk in proportion

This is worth taking seriously and not worth panicking about. The large majority of infections produce no symptoms. The reason it still matters is that the small share of severe cases fall disproportionately on people over sixty and those with weakened immune systems, which is a good reason to reduce mosquito numbers around a house where those people live.

When the risk is highest

Late summer, specifically August and September. The virus cycles between birds and mosquitoes all season and needs time to build, so the peak human risk arrives well after the peak nuisance biting in May and June.

The species that matters

The southern house mosquito is the main local carrier, and it prefers stagnant, organically rich water rather than clean rainwater. Neglected pools, storm drains, clogged gutters and containers that have been sitting for weeks are its preferred nursery.

Practical steps

• Empty and scrub containers rather than just tipping them, because eggs stick to the sides
• Report neglected swimming pools in your neighborhood, which are a genuine community problem
• Use repellent at dusk and dawn during August and September
• Keep treatments running through September rather than stopping when the biting eases
• Fix window and door screens

See our mosquito control program and season pricing