GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas — The Galveston County Health District on Friday announced it has confirmed its first case of neuroinvasive West Nile virus in a human.
The district said the patient was taken to a hospital and was showing signs of improvement.
Galveston County health officials have asked mosquito control teams to start spraying and trapping efforts in the patient’s neighborhood to mitigate the risk of transmission.
The county said on top of this human case, three chickens in the county have tested positive for West Nile virus, according to Texas Department of State Health Services reporting.
Health officials urged residents to take precautions to avoid contracting the virus. Here are some tips from the Galveston County Health District to avoid mosquito bites:
- Use insect repellant containing DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus oil
- Wear long sleeved clothing during, especially during peak mosquito activity hours
- Eliminate standing water around homes where mosquitoes can breed
- Install screens on windows and doors to help keep mosquitoes out
The district said residents can reach out to Galveston County Mosquito Control with questions about mosquitoes in their area. They can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1-800-842-5622.