AUSTIN, Texas — With warmer weather, Austin Public Health (APH) surveillance and testing are underway ahead of mosquito season. The time is now to learn mosquito prevention strategies and equip yourself to stay safe from mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile and Zika in 2025. 

From spring to fall, when the weather is warmer and wetter, mosquitoes breed throughout Austin and surrounding areas. While their bites are itchy and annoying, mosquitoes pose a much greater threat to people by spreading disease. Mosquitoes may carry diseases that contribute to infections such as of Zika, West Nile, dengue fever, encephalitis and canine heartworm. 

“We’ve seen the weather changing over the years here in Austin, and as a result, we’ve seen mosquito seasons running longer than before,” said Environmental Health Services Division Chief Marcel Elizondo. “We’re also continuing to see West Nile in the pool samples we test – it's crucial that we take this seriously and protect ourselves whenever we’re spending time outdoors.” 

In 2024, 101 mosquito pools tested positive for the virus. Preliminary results, pending finalization by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), show 33 West Nile virus cases, including two deaths, were reported in Austin-Travis County.

“While everyone is excited to get back to their favorite spring and summer activities, let's make sure that we’re taking quick steps to protect ourselves and fully enjoy this time of year,” said Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes. “Wearing long sleeves and pants, putting on repellent and clearing out standing water will protect yourself and others from mosquitoes and the diseases they carry.”  

Fight the Bite Day and Night with the Four Ds:

• Dusk and dawn: Although different species of mosquitoes are active at different times of day, the species that spread West Nile Virus are most active between dusk and dawn.  
• Dress: Wear pants and long sleeves when you are outside. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing; mosquito-repellent clothing is also available.
• DEET: Apply insect repellent that contains DEET. Read and follow label instructions. Spray both exposed skin and clothing with repellent. Find the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of repellents here.  
• Drain: Remove standing water in your yard and neighborhood. Old tires, flowerpots, clogged rain gutters, birdbaths and wading pools can be breeding sites for mosquitos.  

Don’t let mosquitoes ruin your fun this summer. You can learn more about keeping you and your loved ones safe from mosquitoes at austintexas.gov/mosquito. 

Materials with information on prevention can be found in APH’s Mosquito Toolkit.