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 o cials 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 o cials track, test, and eliminate disease-carrying mosquitoes in the county. In 2025, HCPH con rmed the West Nile virus was present in the northern section of the county, including in parts of Cypress, Spring, and Tomball.
Conrmed Cypress-area 2025 disease activity Harris County public health reported the following number West Nile cases in 2025
77064: 914 77065: 915 77070: 923 77095: 813 77429: 934
1
249
2
Reducing the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses
99 TOLL
3
4
3
5
1960
Tip standing water from containers around homes Toss out items that can collect rain or irrigation water Use insect repellant Wear protective clothing when outdoors Seek guidance from a health care professional before travel
5
2
4
1
529
290
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SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTHCOMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTHCOMMUNITY IMPACT
The speci cs
“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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