This year, the Park Cities have taken an aggressive approach to fighting the spread West Nile, including ground fogging, aerial spraying and informing the community about precautionary measures that individuals can take to prevent becoming infected with the virus.

Another thing the City of University Park is currently doing to prevent the spread of West Nile virus is giving mosquito dunks, which are poisonous to all mosquito larvae, to local residents at no charge.

The dunks look like small, beige donuts and dissolve when placed in standing water, releasing a bacterium that kills mosquito larvae but is not dangerous to other living things. The dunks can be placed in birdbaths, flower pots, fish ponds or other areas where water remains for extended periods. Each dunk lasts for 30 days.

As of Friday, about 150 University Park households had been given mosquito dunks, and there are still more available, said Steve Mace, the community information officer for the City of University Park.

University Park residents who would like to pick up a pack of two mosquito dunks for free can stop by UP City Hall between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. In order to receive a pack of dunks, UP residents must show a driver's license or another proof of residency.