More rainfall likely means more mosquitoes

DALLAS - It's too soon to tell if this mosquito season will be worse then in years past, but recent heavy rains are making conditions ripe for insect breeding.

Dallas County Health and Human Services is trying to get the public's attention about mosquito season with a cautionary tale.  Dallas resident Sean Lemoine was bitten by a mosquito -- infected with west nile virus -- while playing outside with his son in 2009. Days later he was rushed to the emergency room.

"I woke up three weeks later in the intensive care unit unable to move," Lemoine said.  "I had been put on a ventilator.  It's like someone running a blow torch over your body. I couldnt move. I couldnt talk, couldnt eat, anything.

With Zika numbers on the decline, The Dallas County health department says the West Nile virus is its number one concern.  The county uses traps like these to help determine mosquito species and where they're thriving.  Entomologists test the mosquitoes to see if they're infected and, if so, with what.  For the public, protection is key to staying healthy.

Dallas County HHS medical director Dr. Christopher Perkins recommends "...dressing appropriately.  Long sleeves, long pants, using insect repellant.  Also look for standing water."

Dallas mom Ty Robinson takes it a step further.

"We usually get our house sprayed around this time and we keep it going for the whole year," Robinson said.  "Better to be safe than sorry.  Especially with the little ones."