Human Case Of West Nile In Tarrant County

CROWLEY (CBSDFW.COM) - Health officials in Tarrant County on Monday morning confirmed their first human case of West Nile virus this season. Tarrant County Public Health stated that the case was diagnosed in Crowley, and is the more severe form of the disease.

Additional details were not released in order to protect the patient's identity.

The mild form of the disease is commonly called West Nile Fever. In these cases, patients display symptoms including headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea and fatigue. Patients are typically able to recover on their own after several weeks.

But the more severe form of the disease is called West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease, and it can be deadly. Symptoms include neck stiffness, tremors, convulsions, stupor, disorientation, muscle weakness, coma and paralysis.

And as many as 80 percent of those people infected with the West Nile virus show no symptoms.

Last year, Tarrant County reported its first human case of the West Nile virus on May 26, leading to nine human cases total and two deaths. Those numbers have obviously not been as high this year, but TCPH still wants residents to take protective measures against the diesase. That includes a frequent check for standing water, the use of insect repellent, and proper clothing. Click here for a list of ways that you can protect yourself.

Tarrant County began checking for the virus on April 1 this season. So far, they have tested nearly 2,300 mosquito samples.

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