Orange County Mosquito Control sprayed Vidor heavily Tuesday after confirming the first human case of the West Nile Virus.
A Vidor resident contracted the West Nile Virus in a neighborhood east of Highway 105 and south of Interstate 10 on August 1.
Orange County Mosquito Control says the person is back home and better, but mosquito control is now out in the neighborhood collecting the insects to see if viral activity still exists in the area.
Mosquito control says the person who contracted virus went to the doctor with flu symptoms but tested positive for West Nile Fever, the less harmful, less deadly variation of the virus.
Now the county and families nearby are stepping up to knock the pests out.
Spraying his two children down with repellant is now a daily ritual for Brandon Waugh since hearing about the West Nile Virus in his neighborhood.
"Oh my gosh, it's horrifyingly scary. You can only protect them so much, and down in this area mosquitoes, they'll lift you up and carry you away," said Waugh.
Scary because he lives in the same area where Orange County Mosquito Control says the first Southeast Texan to contract the virus this year lives.
A possible reason they were bitten: they didn't use repellant.
"People just don't like to use repellant," said Director of Mosquito Control, Patrick Beebe.
Beebe says those most vulnerable for the virus are young, over 50 or have a low immune system.
By air, truck and foot, Beebe says the county is trying to control the mosquitoes. They are also collecting traps to see if the virus is still active in Vidor.
"Even with all that work you need to take personal protective measures," said Beebe.
Measures like cleaning gutters, draining pools and buckets that can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Also, empty dog bowls, potted plants, change water in birdbaths and wading pools.
Try to stay indoors during the dusk and dawn hours when the mosquitoes carrying the virus like to breed. If you do go outside, wear protective clothing and use repellant containing DEET.
Beebe says it's not easy to get West Nile. Less than one percent of those bitten by a mosquito with it actually shows symptoms.
So far, there have been nearly 600 West Nile cases in Texas this year.
An 11th person has died in Dallas County.
Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches and fatigue. If you have the severe variation you would experience headache, high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, even tremors.
