Spring - Klein Edition | December 2025

Government

BY MELISSA ENAJE

Harris County launches dashboard to track mosquito-borne illnesses

What residents should know

The most common mosquito-borne diseases in Harris County are West Nile, Dengue, Zika, chiku- ngunya and St. Louis Encephalitis. As of Nov. 25, 14 total cases of both West Nile and Dengue were reported. Severe reactions to look out for include low-grade fever, hives and swollen lymph nodes, ocials said. HCPH’s website features a form for residents to report potential breeding sites to the county.

Harris County Public Health ocials announced the launch of an online dashboard to update the community about human cases of mosquito-borne diseases reported in the county, outside the city of Houston. “The new dashboard is a valuable tool for residents to stay informed about mosquito- borne diseases in our area,” HCPH Emerging Diseases Director Jennifer Kiger said in a news release. Throughout the year, HCPH’s mosquito and vector control department ocials track, test, and eliminate disease-carrying mosquitoes in the county. In 2025, HCPH conrmed the West Nile virus was present in the northern section of the county, including in parts of Cypress, Spring, and Tomball.

Conrmed Spring-Klein 2025 disease activity Harris County public health reported the following number West Nile cases in 2025:

77068: 921 77069: 922 77070: 928 77379: 926 77388: 925 77389: 930

Reducing the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses

99 TOLL

Tip standing water from containers around homes Toss out items that can collect rain or irrigation water Use insect repellent Wear protective clothing when outdoors Seek guidance from a health care professional before travel

1960

249

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTHCOMMUNITY IMPACT

The specics

“While our current case numbers are low, it’s still important for everyone

to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially during the warmer months.” JENNIFER KIGER, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH

related to the spread of illnesses transmitted by mosquitoes. Harris County’s subtropical climate, diverse mix of urban and rural landscapes complicate the spread of illnesses, including the region’s vulnerability to weather events like ooding, the 2024 report found.

The interactive dashboard, at www.hcphtx.org/ MosquitoDiseases, provides daily, real-time county maps where mosquito-borne diseases have been identied and practical prevention tips. While the prevalence of mosquitoes peaks every summer, ocials said the bugs also persist in the o season. HCPH looked at six years of available data, between 2017 and 2022, and found trends

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SPRING KLEIN EDITION