HOUSTON, TX — The first West Nile cases of the summer in Texas came just before July 4, with Houston-area counties being the first to get confirmed.
However, the list of confirmed cases has now increased to 14 counties, doubling in the last three days:
Brazos, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Fort Bend, Harris, Johnson, Lubbock, Montgomery, Randall, Tarrant, Travis, Wichita and Williamson have all had at least one case.
Wichita County was added Wednesday. The City of Wichita Falls said in a news release that the Texas Department of State Health Services found mosquitoes that tested positive for the virus in east central Wichita Falls.
The latest county is Williamson, with a human case confirmation Thursday.
County officials urge the public to dump standing water, wear EPA approved insect repellent, and wear long sleeves with long pants during outdoor events.
West Nile virus is most commonly spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Most people who contract it experience no symptoms or mild, flu-like symptoms. However, in some cases, particularly in older adults and those with weakened immune systems, the virus can cause severe neurological illness.
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