A confirmed case of West Nile virus has been reported in Williamson County, marking the county’s first human infection of the year, health officials announced. The Williamson County Cities and Health District (WCCHD) disclosed that the afflicted individual is a resident in their 50s living in the southern sector of the county, according to KXAN.
As per KXAN, this season, 13 mosquito traps in Williamson County turned up positive for the virus. In a stark comparison to the previous year, there were 35 positive tests.
"If you develop symptoms of West Nile virus such as severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, confusion, muscle weakness or tremors, or seizures, contact your healthcare provider right away or visit an emergency room," Fritz said, as detailed by CBS Austin. The WCCHD has also reminded the public that the virus is not transmitted from human to human but through mosquito bites alone and stresses the importance of eliminating breeding grounds.
Mosquito trap positives extend beyond Williamson County borders, with Hays County officials reporting that traps in Wimberley tested positive for the virus. Hays County Development Services' chief environmental health specialist, Eric Vangaasbeek, cited recent rainfall as a factor leading to increased standing water, which "provides ideal breeding grounds for mosquitos," he said in remarks to CBS Austin. Subsequently, the public is urged to employ the "three Ds": using DEET-containing repellents, dressing in long, loose clothing, and draining standing water around properties.
