WACO, Texas — Waco-McLennan Public Health has confirmed one case of West Nile virus, the first case in the county since 2020.
The person is an adult male McLennan County resident with no known travel history, according to the Health District.
Across Texas, there's been 39 reported cases of West Nile virus so far in 2024. At least two people have died.
80% of people will not develop an illness. Just one out of 150 people will develop a severe disease.
"Very rarely, it will turn into this neuroinvasive disease," Stephanie Alvey, Assistant Director of Public Health, said. "That's when you start seeing some cognitive issues. That's really when you want to be most concerned, if you have some kind of altered mental status, or, you know, it just starts affecting you cognitively."
West Nile virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Some symptoms may include the following:
- Fever
- Body ache
- Headache
- Rash
In rare cases, particularly among the elderly and individuals with weakened immune systems, the virus can lead to more severe neurological illnesses, including encephalitis or meningitis, the Health District says.
The Health District recommends the following preventative measures for the West Nile virus:
- Use EPA-registered insect repellent
- Wear long-sleeves and pants
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors
- Eliminate standing water in areas where mosquitoes can breed
The Health District additionally offers mosquito repellant available at no charge, and recommends that anyone experiencing symptoms to contact their healthcare provider for testing.
Mosquitoes can be active all the way through November and December in Texas. Depending on the amount of rain we get and how warm it stays, the risk can be higher, according to Alvey.
Willamson County and Bell County have also confirmed some mosquito pools are testing positive for West Nile. There's no treatment for this virus.
The state of Texas monitors and does disease surveillance throughout the state, so you can see where West Nile might be becoming more active.
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