West Nile virus claims the first victim of Harris County, a southwestern man dies of a mosquito-borne disease

A man from southwestern Harris County died of complications from West Nile virus, the second death from a mosquito-borne disease in Texas this year.

Harris County public health officials reported Thursday that the man was between 45 and 54 years old and was suffering from chronic health conditions. He died last week and the county received confirmation that the death was linked to West Nile on Wednesday night.

"We are devastated to report the first death associated with West Nile virus and our hearts go out to the family," said Dr. Umair A. Shah, executive director of Harris County Public Health. "It's also a reminder that West Nile can be serious and cause complications, including death."

The death of West Nile is relatively rare. Shah said that it has been reported as a neurological case, which may mean that the virus has caused encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord) or others severe lesions of the nervous system. Shah did not provide any other information, citing federal patient privacy laws.

Death occurs late in the West Nile season, which usually lasts from June to October, although it can last as long as high temperatures and humidity persist.

Texas Health Department spokesman Chris Van Deusen said West Nile started at the end of this year – July instead of May – probably partly because the winter was particularly cold in the morning. most of the state. He said that Texas is still seeing new cases for people to continue taking precautions, for example by using an insect repellent and removing stagnant water from their property. Mosquitoes breed in and around stagnant water.

Dallas County reported the first West Nile death last month. The latest state report, which is lagging behind local data and does not yet reflect deaths in Dallas and Harris counties, shows 45 West Nile disease cases in Texas this year since Tuesday. The state is waiting for additional documents on the death of Dallas.

There have been six cases of West Nile in Harris County this year, including the newly confirmed death.

West Nile, which arrived in the United States in 1999 and Texas in 2002, is unpredictable, hitting hard in some years and moderately. The peak year in Texas was 2012, with 1,868 cases and 89 deaths. Dallas was the epicenter, but 101 cases and four deaths occurred in Harris County.

Last year, there were 133 cases and five deaths in Texas, including 15 cases and one death in Harris County.

The low number of human cases in Harris County this year does not translate into a shortage of West Nile traps. On Thursday, West Nile was found in 303 mosquitoes, nearly three times last year.

Shah said the small number of human cases reflected the county's spreading and other activities to protect residents and residents, including using mosquito repellents and reducing mosquito breeding sites.

Most people with West Nile virus do not develop symptoms, but about one in five have a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or rashes.

The most serious symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss and encephalitis or meningitis.