 Hi, I'm Andrea with the City of Fort Worth Co-compliance Department. Since mosquito season is just around the corner, I wanted to share what you can do around your house to help protect you and your family from mosquito diseases that are in our area. West Nile virus is a virus carried by mosquitoes. About 80% of people that get bitten by a mosquito carrying this virus won't show any symptoms. About 19% may show some mild flu-like symptoms. One percent of those getting bitten by these mosquitoes carrying the virus will show more neurological issues, paralysis, coma, and even death-related issues. Another mosquito virus that's been in the news lately is Zika virus. While we don't have any localized transmission of Zika virus here in Fort Worth, we have had some traveler cases where they've gone out of the country and have come back and have tested positive for Zika. Since we don't have any localized transmission here in Fort Worth, it's still always good to be vigilant in the event that it does happen. Please remember the best prevention for mosquitoes is just to drain standing water. Make sure you look around your house for any items that may contain standing water such as flowerpot containers, plastic waiting pools, toys in the backyard, or even wheelbarrows. Another thing that you can do is to wear a deat or another EPA-approved repellent as you're sitting outside on your patio. One of the ways to protect yourself is to protect your home. You can purchase over-the-counter pesticides to kill adult mosquitoes from your local hardware store. Just be sure to read the instructions and follow them carefully. When you spray around your house, try to remember to spray the bushes and the shrubs. Also, don't forget about the eaves of your house and under the deck. These are nice shaded places where mosquitoes like to rest during the summertime. Another way you can protect your home is to treat standing water for mosquito larvae. You can purchase these dunks at any local hardware store. These will kill any mosquito larvae that may be in standing water. Try to look for areas that may hold standing water. A good location is an AC unit. All you can do is just crumble a piece up and put it in there like this. Just be sure to wash your hands when you're done. For more information regarding mosquito diseases, please visit the following websites, Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov, Tarrant County Public Health at tarantcounty.com, and City of Fort Worth at fortworthtexas.gov.