SWEENY, Texas — West Nile virus has been detected in mosquito traps in two Brazoria County communities, according to a public notice posted by the City of Sweeny.
The Brazoria County Mosquito Control District collected mosquitoes from routine surveillance traps that tested positive for West Nile virus on May 13, 2026. One positive trap was located near Magnolia Parkway and County Road 922 in Manvel, while the second was found near Main Street and Powell Street in Sweeny.
Officials said mosquito control crews would spray the affected areas twice nightly for three days before re-trapping the area. Residents were also urged to dump standing water, use repellent outdoors and limit outdoor activity between dusk and dawn.
The detection does not mean there are confirmed human cases in Sweeny or Manvel. However, health officials say West Nile virus spreads through the bite of infected mosquitoes and remains a seasonal concern in Texas during warmer months.
The Texas Department of State Health Services recently confirmed the state’s first West Nile illness case of 2026 in a Harris County resident, who was diagnosed with West Nile neuroinvasive disease. DSHS says about 80% of infected people never develop symptoms, while roughly 20% may experience fever, headache, nausea, body aches or fatigue. Less than 1% develop the more serious neurological form of the illness.
Residents can reduce their risk by removing standing water from flowerpots, buckets, kiddie pools, pet bowls, toys and clogged gutters. Health officials also recommend wearing long sleeves and pants when mosquitoes are active and using repellents containing DEET or picaridin.
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