West Nile Virus and Zika Virus Situation Report

The Grayson County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division has received and complied laboratory results for mosquito traps set from April 6, 2016 through June 24, 2016 The Texas A & M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) reports indicated the presence of the West Nile Virus (WNV) in two of the eleven mosquito pools submitted for analysis from mosquito traps set on June 24, 2016 (a pool is one net of mosquitoes collected from a single address). These are the first two WNV positive mosquito pools for the 2016 surveillance period, which began in early April of this year One positive pool was identified from a trap that was set at Gunter City Hall in Gunter, Texas on June 24, 2016, and the second was from a trap that was set on Elm Street in Whitesboro, Texas on June 24, 2016 The Environmental Health Division (EH) has reached out to city officials to provide them with further guidance and identify additional trap locations As a result of the notification, Whitesboro city officials notified the Grayson County Health Department (GCHD) that they would be spraying for mosquitoes (adulticiding) last Tuesday, weather permitting WNV is spread primarily through the bite of an infected Culex mosquito Culex mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds GCHD has not received any official reports concerning any human cases of WVN for 2016.

At this time, GCHD is not testing mosquito pools for the Zika virus Zika virus is spread primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, and possibly the Aedes albopictus mosquito The mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus and can then spread the virus to others through bites Therefore, it is recommend to test symptomatic humans, not mosquito pools, for Zika virus However, it is important to identify the mosquito genus and species known to transmit, or possibly transmit, the Zika virus, and track their location throughout the county. Such identification efforts will assist the GCHD with future Zika response efforts, if necessary To date, GCHD has reported one human case of travel-associated Zika virus, meaning that the individual had traveled to a country where there was ongoing transmission of Zika, and subsequently returned to the United States and became symptomatic No additional human cases have been officially reported to GCHD

GCHD continues to maintain a link on their Grayson County website http://wwwco grayson tx us/ default aspx?name=hlth home for the public to obtain additional information regarding the Zika virus In addition, GCHD has a hotline 903-465-2878 Ext 236 and an email address mosquito@co grayson tx us for the public to send in their mosquito related questions or concerns GCHD will continue its efforts to educate the public, city officials, public works divisions, and code enforcement personnel on how to protect themselves and residents from mosqui illnesses such as Zika Virus Educational do and flyers, as well as s mosquito larvicides, h distributed to cities thr Grayson County. The County Health Depart Environmental Health continue to perform m trapping and species identification protect against mosquito bites follow the four D’s: Drain – drain standing water; Dress – wear long sleeves and pants; DEET – apply insect repellent containing DEET (follow directions for use); Daily – all day every day fight the bite For additional information, including the most common signs and symptoms associated with each illness, please visit wwwtexaszika org

Teachers

and was debriefed on the health department functions of the county After touring both clerk's offices, she found that one is happy (where people fill out marriage applications and birth certificates) and one was sad (where people are dealing with divorce and child support forms).

continued from page 2 horn for the cost of labor and materials

Commissioner James also stresses the importance of replacing fleet vehicles and budgeting for maintenance on a rotation because the feasibility of replacing multimachinery in one year would not do well for budgeting purposes

Dawsey also learned that the County Commissioner deals a lot with the people and that Commissioner James' philosophy is to go out and meet with the people one-one-one and find common ground to help in the needs and hopefully resolve the issues

"She cares and if she can't fix something, you can tell that it bothers her" said Dawsey

Later, she went on to the Precinct 1 Barn where she witnessed a meeting about adding tornado sirens Dawsey experienced nearly everything one could see in county business, even sitting in a $1 5 million fire truck But it was the emergency operations that really struck Dawsey's attention

"Every emergency that could happen, they've thought of it and are prepared for it " said Dawsey "I'm sort of into that kind of thing - being prepared But I don't think about it on the level that she does "

On the last day of going through the program, Dawsey got to see the Grayson County workers placing a tin horn She was informed by the county that they really want people to call them to place the tin horn because if it is done improperly, flooding could wash away the road Therefore, the county will offer to correctly place the tin

"I know there are people that think it's all a great conspiracy to spend every dollar that comes in, but I felt like they really were trying to think through things and make the taxpayers' money go as far as it can go " said Dawsey "There's only so much money and you have to have some for this (department) and this (department) and this (department)

Dawsey plans to take this educational week back to the classroom and pass along to her students what the county said they are looking for from the next wave of students Unfortunately for those that love to say they'll never use algebra and geometry, Dawsey says that if you want to be a good employee in the workforce, those skills will be needed

"They said some of these kids can't come in here and write a coherent paragraph and communicate something " said Dawsey "Some of the bosses would say that they would just write it themselves because they couldn't deal with all of the mistakes that were made by the young people now They just want to see that skill "

Dawsey also said that the students will need to know basic problem solving and basic coordination Her biggest point of advice: "Learn how to interview for a job "

Lone Star Hoops Basketball

Camp

July 11 @ 8:30 am - July 14 @ 4:30 pm

Howe High School

Gymnasium, 200 E Ponderosa Rd , Howe, TX

Keep Howe Beautiful Meeting

July 11 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Howe Development Alliance, 101 E Haning St, Howe, TX

Movie Day with Popcorn- Inside Out

July 13 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am

First United Methodist Church, 810 N Denny, Howe, TX

Movie Day- Monsters University

July 13 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

100 E Davis, Howe, TX

The Quran and Christianity Bible Study

July 13 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Howe Church of Christ, 1205 N Collins Fwy, Howe, TX

Garden Club

July 14 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Howe Community Library, 315 S Collins Frwy, Howe, TX