Mosquito fogging trucks will roll through unincorporated Denton County west of Sanger starting Thursday, Aug. 6, after a trap in the area tested positive for West Nile Virus.

Denton County Public Health announced the positive trap Tuesday, Aug. 4, and said crews will fog three times between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. through Wednesday, Aug. 12, weather permitting. The operation uses truck-based ultra-low volume spraying, according to the county's alert. Residents in the fog zone are being notified through emergency alerts and posted signage, DCPH said.

The Sanger-area detection is part of the same West Nile surge that has produced positive traps near Flower Mound and Lewisville, as we reported July 31.

Fourth fogging round this summer

The new operation marks the fourth separate fogging campaign in unincorporated Denton County since July 1. Previous rounds targeted areas south of Hackberry and west of Frisco (July 2–8), south of New Fairview (July 16–22, triggered by two positive traps) and east of Oak Point (July 23–29).

Two human West Nile cases have also been confirmed in the county this year. The second, reported July 30, involved a resident of The Colony diagnosed with the more severe neuroinvasive form of the disease. The first case, reported July 10, involved a Denton resident with the non-neuroinvasive form.

What residents should do

Juan Rodriguez, DCPH's assistant director and chief epidemiologist, said in the county's July 30 announcement of the second human case: "We encourage all community members to practice prevention to reduce their risk."

DCPH advises residents to:

  • Drain standing water in bird baths, flowerpots and clogged rain gutters.
  • Use BTI briquettes (mosquito dunks) in standing water that cannot be eliminated.
  • Wear long sleeves and pants outdoors.
  • Apply EPA-registered repellents containing DEET, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.

There are no vaccines or medicines to prevent West Nile Virus in people.

Fog-area maps and mosquito surveillance data are posted at DentonCounty.gov/WNV. Residents should monitor that page for updates after the Aug. 12 fogging window closes.