At least 24 Tarrant County residents have been hospitalized with West Nile Virus this summer, according to Tarrant County Public Health, signs that the region might be facing an above average season for the virus.
There have been at least three deaths in Texas linked to West Nile Virus this year, one each in Dallas, Tarrant and Denton counties.
Dr. Scott Weaver, the director of the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity at UT Medical Branch at Galveston, said it was too soon to say whether 2024 would ultimately be an above average for West Nile Virus cases in Texas, as the virus will continue to spread here until November.
“I think it’s a little too early to say where we’re going to end up because we’re still in the first half of the transmission,” Weaver said
But Tarrant County numbers show that the season is off to an aggressive start: More than 520 mosquito samples in the greater Fort Worth area have tested positive for the virus, compared to 174 positive samples during the same time frame last year.
“There’s a lot of infected mosquitoes” in both the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth regions, Weaver said, meaning there are “undoubtedly a lot more cases to come.”
How West Nile Virus spreads
Every year, West Nile Virus follows the same transmission pattern: The virus spreads to humans through infected mosquitoes, who in turn get infected by biting birds. The infected mosquitoes then carry the virus to humans and other animals.
West Nile Virus can not spread from human to human.
The best way to protect yourself from the virus is to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes in the first place. Tarrant County Public Health advises using floor fans to keep mosquitoes from landing and biting.
Other steps, like wearing long-sleeved clothing and using insect repellent , are also effective at deterring mosquitoes. Vector control experts also recommend that you remove any standing water outside your home, like in pet dishes or kids’ pools.
Dr. Kelly Cawcutt, an associate professor of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, also advised people spending time outdoors to put sunscreen on first and insect repellent second, so the repellent can be most effective.
Who is at risk for getting sick from West Nile Virus
Many people who are bitten by a virus-positive mosquito have very minor symptoms or no symptoms at all, Weaver said, and thus humans are usually only tested if they go to a doctor with more serious symptoms.
For most people, getting bitten by a virus-positive mosquito won’t cause serious illness. The majority of people who are infected don’t develop any symptoms, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although the total number of people who are infected with the virus is difficult to calculate, because asymptomatic people are not usually tested.
“The vast majority of people are not going to have any serious disease,” Cawcutt said.
A minority of people infected will develop symptoms that are similar to the flu or COVID-19, like fever, headache, body aches, gastrointestinal issues, and more. An estimated 1% of people who get West Nile Virus will develop neuroinvasive disease, Cawcutt said. The virus can also affect other organ systems, and cause permanent damage and even death in rare cases. Those at the greatest risk of getting seriously ill are people with compromised immune systems, she added.
There is no West Nile Virus vaccine available for humans ( although there is one for horses ) and no antiviral treatments for the virus. Symptoms of West Nile Virus are similar to those of flu and COVID-19, and include fever, headache, body aches, and fatigue.
Most Popular
Comments / 0