West Nile virus: Tarrant Co. health officials announce human case [Video]

TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) confirmed Saturday its first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) for the 2024 season.

TCPH officials said in a press release that the individual involved contracted the more serious neuroinvasive form of the disease. TCPH did not release any other details about the person “to protect the identity of the patient.”

Symptoms for the neuroinvasive form of West Nile include neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. This form of the disease can be deadly, TCPH says.

The mild form of the disease, which is more common, is referred to as West Nile fever. Symptoms for West Nile fever include headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea and fatigue. People typically recover on their own, although symptoms may last for several weeks, according to TCPH.

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