Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) has confirmed a 13 th and 14 th human case of West Nile infection in Dallas County for the 2016 season. The 13 th case is a resident of the 75149 zip code of Mesquite. The 14th case is a resident of the 75206 zip code of Dallas. The patients were diagnosed with West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease and West Nile Fever, respectively.

Texas map Image/Urban
Texas map
Image/Urban

“Since there is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatments for WNV infection, residents should adhere to preventive measures to protect themselves and their loved ones,” said Dr. Christopher Perkins, DCHHS medical director/health authority.

People should reduce their risk of exposure to the mosquito-borne virus that causes it by eliminating standing water and other mosquito breeding areas and avoiding mosquito bites.

As many as 80 percent of people who contract the virus will have no symptoms at all. Almost all others will have West Nile fever with symptoms like headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea and fatigue. A very small minority will develop West Nile neuroinvasive disease, a life threatening illness that can cause neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis.

In 2015, there were 275 human cases of West Nile illness in Texas, including 16 deaths.

In addition, health officials confirmed the 21st imported Zika virus case in a 29-year-old resident of Addison who was infected with the virus during recent travel to the Dominican Republic.

DCHHS advises individuals with symptoms to see a healthcare provider if they visited an area where Zika virus is present or had sexual contact with a person who traveled to an area where Zika virus is present.

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