Harris County Public Health finds first positive mosquito sample of West Nile virus in 2026

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- The first positive West Nile Virus mosquito sample has been confirmed by Harris County Public Health, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

The video above is from a previous report.

HCPH said its Mosquito and Vector Control Division found mosquito samples that tested positive for the West Nile virus in Harris County ZIP codes 77041 and 77032 in north and northwestern Harris County.

"Although mosquitoes are present in our area throughout the year, it is unusual to find virus-positive samples this early in the year. The unseasonably warm winter we are experiencing is conducive to mosquito breeding, which highlights the importance of mosquito bite prevention, breeding control, and treatment year-round," Dr. Courtney Standlee, Director of HCPH's Mosquito and Vector Control Division.

As a precaution, the department said it has sent out ultra-low-volume spray trucks to the affected areas, but they will only spray in the evenings, since officials said that is when mosquitoes are most active. The department says the targeted sprays are a part of its efforts to lessen the mosquito population and lower the risk of transmission.

RELATED: 1st West Nile virus human case of 2025 reported in Harris County, health officials say

Back in 2025, a man in East Harris County tested positive for the first human case of West Nile virus, but made a full recovery. The department said it recorded 10 human cases of West Nile in the county last year.

In 2024, there were two people in Texas who died from the virus.

HCPH said there has been no confirmed human case of WNV reported in the county in 2026, but it will continue to monitor conditions and update the public as more information becomes available.

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