Second West Nile case confirmed in El Paso

A second person in El Paso has tested positive for the West Nile virus according to the city’s Department of Public Health.

The patient is identified as a man in his mid-20s from the central part of town.

The department said two mosquito traps in the Mission Valley area have tested positive for the West Nile virus.

“This new case and new positive mosquito pools are a reminder that mosquitoes are active and we can say for sure, some of them have the potential to spread disease,” said lead epidemiologist, Fernando Gonzalez. .

With the Zika virus now being spread locally in Florida, and with other mosquito-borne disease threats, the Health Department continues to recommend mosquito bite prevention tips. The recommendations are:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants

• Drain standing water both inside and outside your home

• Stay in cool places with air conditioning and window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside

• Use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol (do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old).

• More information is available at www.EPHealth.com on the Zika virus page

To report standing water or other mosquito breeding sites, call the Environmental Services Department Vector Control Program at 311.