Dallas County and the City of Sachse continue efforts to combat the spread of mosquitoes by offering free 2-packet Mosquito Dunks for all Sachse residents.  The Mosquito Dunks are now available, on a first-come-first-serve basis at the Community Development Department Office located at City Hall, 3815-B Sachse Road during the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday.  The Mosquito Dunks were donated by the Dallas County Health and Human Services.

These Mosquito Dunks are intended for the citizens of Sachse to place in standing, stagnant water around their homes. The purpose is to eliminate the presence of mosquito larvae.  Mosquito Dunks float on water for 30 days or longer slowly releasing biological mosquito larvicide that kills mosquito larvae when eaten.  They do not kill adult mosquitoes.  Mosquito Dunk users should carefully follow directions for use and safety precautions found on the label of each pack.  For more information about this product: www.summitchemical.com.

Read the Dallas County press release related to combating West Nile, Chikungunya, Dengue and Zika viruses in 2017. DCHHS began its mosquito prevention campaign early this year.

Visit Dallas County HHS West Nile website for more information on how to prevent the spread of mosquitoes in your area.

To protect from mosquito bites, people are asked to follow the Four D’s of protection:

• DRAIN standing water around the home
• Use insect repellent containing DEET
• Avoid being outdoors at DUSK and DAWN when mosquitoes are most active
• DRESS to protect yourself with long sleeves and pants to reduce skin exposure

Sachse is working with Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) to control mosquitoes in the area:

• The City of Sachse enters into an Interlocal Agreement with DCHHS annually, which allows response to mosquito control.
• DCHHS has set up three mosquito traps that are monitored in multiple fixed areas within Sachse city limits.  DCHHS staff monitors the traps weekly during the spring and summer months.  Results are sent back to Sachse from the DCHHS lab each week.
• If a mosquito is found to be positive for carrying the West Nile Virus, DCHHS responds by ground-spraying the area where the mosquito was found.  City staff will make every effort to notify citizens in advance in areas targeted for spraying.  The targeted/zone neighborhoods are sprayed twice or thrice.  Spraying events begin at 10 p.m. and will end by 5 a.m.  Health Department staff may postpone spraying until weather conditions are more favorable.
• If Sachse receives notification from the DCHHS Epidemiologist that an individual has been medically diagnosed as having West Nile Virus, mosquito traps are placed in the area surrounding the address of the confirmed case.  Surveillance activities are increased and mosquitoes are collected in the area for analysis.
• City staff continues to attack the mosquito problem at its source, treating standing water with an environmentally-safe larvicide to eradicate the larvae.  The areas of concern are mapped on a GIS database for routine monitoring.
• City staff continues to respond to residents' requests to investigate areas that are prime for the breeding of mosquito larvae.  We welcome any resident's concerns.
• Sachse and DCHHS will continue to provide facts and helpful educational information concerning West Nile Virus.

• Severe West Nile (Neuroinvasive Disease) infections can cause neurologic complications such as encephalitis.  Symptoms include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.  It is estimated that approximately 1 in 150 persons infected with the West Nile Virus will develop a more severe form of disease.
• West Nile Fever - It is estimated that about 20% of people who become infected with West Nile Virus will develop West Nile Fever.  Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches.  Occasionally a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands will occur.  While the illness may last only a few days, even healthy people have reported being sick for several weeks.

Ways to protect yourself and your property:

• Get rid of old tires, tin cans, bottles, buckets, drums and other containers in your yard or keep them empty of standing water.
• Empty wading pools frequently and store them indoors when not in use.
• Keep inground pools clean and functioning.
• Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets.
• Replace your outdoor lights with yellow "bug" lights.
• Change water in bird baths and scrub them twice a week.
• If you have outside pets, empty their watering dishes daily.
• Clean clogged roof gutters and drain flat roofs.
• Treat standing water that cannot be drained with Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis (BTI), which is a larvicide available at most home and garden stores.
• Make sure window and door screens are "bug tight".
• When possible, remain indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
• When outdoors, wear protective clothing, or use insect repellent with the active ingredient DEET to avoid exposure to mosquitoes.  Always read instructions before using insect repellent or other chemicals.