West Nile Virus Found In Mosquitoes In East Texas

AGUA DULCE, TX — The West Nile virus has been detected in a group of mosquitoes found in Agua Dulce, a city in Nueces County. The finding was confirmed by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) who instructed people to travel around County Road 38 with caution, KIII News reported.

The virus has been found in every corner of the state this year, according to a map from DSHS. Roughly 80 percent of people infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms. For people over 50, and those with weakened immune systems, are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill if they become infected with the virus, DSHS reported.

Your best protection against mosquitoes carrying West Nile is insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. You should also wear long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are more active, DSHS added. There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus and no vaccine, DSHS said.

(For more news and information like this, subscribe to Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Photo via Texas Department of State Health Services