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GIDDINGS, Texas (KXAN) – The first case of the year of the West Nile Virus of Austin was reported with two other cases – one in Dallas and one in Galveston.
But as a family in central Texas discovered it just under two years ago, the virus can be deadly.
"The most difficult thing in my life – and I do not want any family through this – was holding my grandson when he passed away," said Rosalee Kibby.
Cody Hopkins' life was cut short at the age of 13 years of West Nile encephalitis. A mosquito bite finally led to his last breath in October 2016.
"Cody's favorite song was" the man can not change the world " and Cody is not there to do it, but we are "
She sensitized West Nile, talked to lawmakers and testified before the state working group on infectious diseases.
"My question to them was: why do we have a vaccine for horses and not for people?" Says Kibby.Cody's father, Greg Lashmet, says that there is a vaccine approved by the FDA that has already undergone the first two stages of the test, but no one can get the funding needed to move to phases three and four
. give a true picture of the life that it affects because many doctors do not test it, and most people do not take it very seriously because they think that people's immune system can fight it.
"It affects everyone differently," Lashmet said. " Even a healthy 13 year old boy with a strong immune system, no health problems. It cost him his life, so if it cost him his life, it can take someone's life.
On October 6, Cody's family offers another bullfighting performance in his honor called the Cody Hopkins Invitational. He enjoyed the rodeo sport This year he will be in Bastrop at Mayfest Hill Park.
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