Kevin O’Connor Kommentary April 28

United Way of the Brazos Valley Update with Partner Agency S.O.S. Ministries

WTAW’s Chelsea Reber visits with Kat Gammon from United Way of the Brazos Valley and J.J. Ramirez and Kyle Salmon from S.O.S. Ministries. Listen to “United Way of the Brazos Valley Update with Partner Agency S.O.S. Ministries” on Spreaker.

First Human Case Of West Nile Virus In Brazos County

Brazos County has its first person infected with West Nile Virus. The health district says the person lives in the College Station zip code of 77845. The severity of the person’s infection was not released. The health district says most people who are exposed do not get sick. 20 percent develop headaches, fever, body aches, joint pain, nausea, and/or fatigue. The health district’s response to the first human case includes but is not limited to setting additional mosquito trips and increased application of chemicals in areas of the affected zip code where the mosquito population multiplies. The health district asks property owners to remove standing water and ensure that lawn irrigation and onsite sewage systems are operating properly. The health district also tests for West Nile in surrounding counties. And a mosquito trap in the Grimes County zip code of 77868 had positive samples. The zip code area includes Navasota and the Wallace Pack prison. News release from the Brazos County health district: The Brazos County Health District Vector Surveillance Program has confirmed mosquito samples collected in Brazos County and submitted for testing by the Texas Department of State Health Services Arbovirus Laboratory have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). The mosquito traps that collected the positive samples were located in Grimes County: 77868 zip code The confirmed human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) was located in: Human WNV Case: 77845 zip code of College Station Please keep in mind that all of Brazos County should be considered positive for WNV and residents should take the necessary steps to reduce exposure to mosquitoes. The Brazos County Health District (BCHD) conducts Mosquito Surveillance with weekly trapping in both Cities of Bryan and College Station, beginning each May through the end of October to monitor for the presence of West Nile Virus, St Louis Encephalitis Virus, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus. BCHD staff also collects mosquitoes trapped by members of the Brazos Valley Vector Collaborative (BVVC) in the six adjacent counties of Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, and Washington. Traps are set by BVVC members every other week and samples are collected, prepared and shipped to the Texas DSHS Arbovirus Laboratory in Austin by the BCHD. Brazos County Health District officials have notified the other members of the Vector Surveillance and Control Partnership along with the City of Bryan, City of College Station, Texas A&M University, and affected surrounding counties. Enhanced surveillance including additional traps and larvicide treatments of confirmed breeding habitat in the area of the positive sample collection will begin as specified in the Brazos County Health District Phased Response Guidelines. Residents in all areas of Bryan, College Station, the Brazos Valley area, and surrounding counties should empty and eliminate any standing water in containers on their property and ensure that lawn irrigation and onsite sewage systems are functioning properly. In response to the first human case of West Nile Virus in Brazos County in 2024, BCHD will follow the protocol outlined in the Phased Response Guidelines. This Phased Response includes but is not limited to setting additional traps and increased larvicide application of breeding habitats in the impacted zip code. BCHD will continue to educate the public on ways to protect themselves and monitor the area. There are no medications to treat, or vaccines to prevent West Nile Virus infection. All Brazos County residents are urged to use the 4D’s to reduce exposure to biting mosquitoes: • DEET All day, Every Day: Whenever outside, use and reapply insect repellents that have the active ingredient DEET or other EPA-registered repellents and always follow label instructions. • Dress: Wear long, loose, and light-colored clothing outside. • Dusk and Dawn: Limit spending time outdoors when mosquitoes are most active. • Drain: Drain or treat with larvicide all standing water in and around your home or workplace where mosquitoes could lay eggs. West Nile Virus is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Most people exposed to the virus do not get sick, but about 20% develop symptoms like headache, fever, body aches, joint pains, nausea, and fatigue. In a very small portion, less than one percent, the virus affects the nervous system, leading to a more serious illness that can cause neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, and even death. For more information, visit our website at www.brazoshealth.org

Texas A&M’s President Addresses The Faculty Senate

September’s meeting of the Texas A&M faculty senate included an appearance from president Mark Welsh. The 50 minute session opened with Welsh providing updates on committee work and upcoming initiatives that includes A&M’s Vision 2040 plan, engaging new employees and students in what he called “Reembracing the Spirit of Aggieland”, and launching a new student leadership program where students could get academic credit. Welsh then answered faculty questions on topics ranging from paying student athletes to the university continuing to study employee pay, academic freedom, and transportation issues between the main campus, the west campus, and the health science center. Click below to hear some of the comments from Mark Welsh during the September 9, 2024 Texas A&M faculty senate meeting. Listen to “Texas A&M's president addresses the faculty senate September 9, 2024” on Spreaker.