Fourth Houstonian dies from West Nile virus; six new cases reported

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The city of Houston is reporting another West Nile virus related death.

The city's fourth death from the mosquito borne disease is a 75- to 84-year-old man from northwest Houston. The Houston Health Department also reports six new human cases to raise the total in Houston to 49.

Harris County has 16 West Nile cases, but no deaths.

Fort Bend County has reported eight total cases.

Five people now have died of West Nile in our viewing area -- four in Houston and one in El Campo.

Overall, at least 74 human cases have been confirmed across the ABC13 viewing area with four deaths.

As for other counties in our area as of last Friday, Montgomery County has reported four cases with no deaths. Wharton County has had one case with one death. Liberty County and Galveston County have both had one case with zero deaths. Brazoria County and Waller County have all had zero cases thus far.

Federal health officials say this is the nation's worst year for the mosquito-borne virus since it was discovered in New York 13 years ago.

There are more than 1,400 cases of West Nile in the United States. Texas has at least 52 of the country's 118 West Nile related deaths.

Several Texas counties have been spraying pesticide to help reduce the mosquito population.

Mosquito-proof your property

HCPHES continues to encourage residents to eliminate mosquito breeding habitats around their property. Remove or empty all outside containers that may hold water such as flowerpots, tires and toys. Bird baths and pet water bowls should be changed at least twice a week. Clean out gutters and make sure windows and doors have proper screening. Do not "feed" the storm drains. Sweep up lawn clippings, leaves and tree limbs from sidewalks and driveways and dispose of them properly.

Prevent mosquito breeding in boats Cover your boat and store it in a covered place. Drain any standing water and make sure the bilge pump is working.Turn over canoes, kayaks and small boats to store upside down.

Personal protection

Historically, in Harris County, July through September is the peak timeframe for disease transmission to humans. To reduce the likelihood of being bitten by mosquitoes, practice personal protective measures. When outdoors, use an insect repellent containing the active ingredient DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 and apply as directed on the label. If possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

For additional information and/or maps of West Nile Virus activity in Harris County, visit www.hcphes.org.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Fourth house struck by car in NW Houston neighborhood

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Homeowners in a northwest Houston neighborhood are fed up. They say the curve they live on is dangerous, and the latest example they're using is the crumbling home on the corner of their street. It was hit by a car early Friday morning, and this isn't the first time.

Neighbors say it's only a matter of time before someone is killed, and they say something needs to be done to warn drivers. The concern centers around a sudden turn in the road along Green Lawn Drive and Long Leaf.

The speed limit on the street is 30mph, but you may not know because there aren't any signs on the street. Without proper signs, people who live there say, this will continue to be a problem.

"I looked at it, and there was no question what had happened," homeowner Bob Liska said.

Liska says he didn't need police to tell him what happened at his home. When he woke up and saw it, he already knew. But he did have one question.

"How they were able to keep the car running to back it up and pull out?" he wonders.

Around 1:30am Friday, someone crashed into the side of Liska's house. He and wife, Sue, are lucky.

"Our bedroom's on the other side of the house; I use a device when I sleep so it sort of numbs the noise," Bob Liska said.

So, if he didn't hear it, how did he know what happened? Well, it's history repeated there, and at neighbor Barbara Harrison's house.

"Hit the side, took out some plants, hit the side of my house," Harrison said.

And it also happened at the home of Nic Rodriguez.

"We've gone through several mailboxes," Rodriguez said.

All these neighbors call their street a speedway, a short-cut between West Little York and Antoine. They say traffic has gotten worse in the last two years, and on Friday afternoon, our cameras even caught drivers zipping around the corner.

"How long is the city going to just let this go on before someone is really seriously injured?" Sue Liska said.

So far, the Liskas say pleas for help from the city have been ignored. Their plan now is to get speed bumps in here, and fast.

We called Houston City Councilwoman Helena Brown's office, and within hours, her chief adviser William Park was out there to talk to the Liskas and get video of the scene. He even says he will recommend speed bumps and road signs.

"Firsthand, while I was standing out here, a school bus sped by, it didn't even slow down -- unbelievable. And I was gonna park right out there, I'm glad I didn't," Park said.

Meanwhile, police say they have no description of the car or driver in this case.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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No-refusal Fourth of July weekend underway

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's a no refusal weekend, and within hours of beginning their crackdown, the Houston Police Department spotted and arrested a suspected drunk driver.

Police say the driver had open beer bottles inside his car and was driving erratically on the Gulf Freeway at Telephone Rd.

Officers tried to stop the car, but the driver refused. Police gave chase all the way up I-45 to the Katy Freeway, where the driver finally stopped at Patterson.

The man was taken into custody for felony evading and felony driving while intoxicated for his third DWI arrest, police said. They found open beer bottles in the car.

This Fourth of July weekend, law enforcement will be beefed up across the state.

Here in Houston, you'll see Blood Alcohol Testing units -- or BAT vans -- on the streets.

It was a bat van that caught up to the suspected drunken driver overnight.

The BAT vans are on patrol every weekend in hopes of saving lives. This weekend, they will be out an extra day.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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