Williamson County reports woman has first human case of West Nile virus this year

Claire Osborn, Austin American-Statesman
·3 min read

The first human case of human West Nile virus in more than two years has been reported in Williamson County. The patient is a woman who lives in the northern part of the county and has been diagnosed with West Nile neuroinvasive disease, according to a news release Tuesday from the Williamson County and Cities Health District.

The health district is not giving additional information about the woman because of privacy reasons, the release said. Williamson County hasn't reported a human case of West Nile Virus since 2020, health district spokeswoman Deb Strahler said.

West Nile virus is a disease spread by the bite of a mosquito, which can become infected when they feed on the blood of infected birds, the district said.

Severe West Nile infections in humans can cause encephalitis or meningitis, officials said. Symptoms might include fever, headaches, body aches, a skin rash on the trunk of the body, and swollen lymph nodes, the release said.

More: West Nile virus survivor in his fourth year of recovery

People ages 50 and older with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk for severe symptoms that might include stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, vision loss, paralysis and, in rare cases, death, the district said. West Nile virus is not directly contagious from one person to another. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for the virus, officials said.

Authorities have collected positive samples of West Nile virus from mosquitos at several traps across the county this summer. Mosquitoes trapped on Aug. 10 at Sun City in Georgetown tested positive for the virus as well as mosquitoes trapped on Aug. 3, July 27, July 20 and July 13 at Cat Hollow Park in the Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District.

More: First case of West Nile virus found in Austin. Here's what you need to know

Mosquitoes also tested positive for the virus when trapped on July 27 at Milburn Park in Cedar Park; on July 25 on Colorado Street in Granger; on July 18, June 21 and June 13 at the community pool in the Sonterra Municipal Utility District; and on July 7 at the Beck Preserve in the Brushy Creek MUD.

Other samples of mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus were collected on June 27 at Blue Hole Park in Georgetown and May 23 at Geneva Park in Georgetown.

“Mosquito activity continues to be very high across Central Texas, and we would like to encourage the community to be careful when going out outside to enjoy activities, especially early mornings at dawn and evenings at dusk,” Dr. Amanda Norwood, medical director for the district, said in the release. “Please follow the 3Ds to do everything you can to avoid mosquito bites:”

  • Defend: Whenever you’re outside, use insect repellents that contain DEET or other EPA-approved repellents and follow instructions.

  • Dress: Wear long, loose and light-colored clothing when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk.

  • Drain: Drain or treat all standing water in and around your home or workplace where mosquitoes could lay eggs.

For more information, visit the WCCHD website or the Texas Department of State Health Services' West Nile website at txwestnile.org.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Williamson County reports first human case of West Nile virus