Denton County health officials reported the county’s first human case of West Nile virus in 2026 on Friday, July 10. It was also the first human case publicly confirmed by a D-FW health agency this year
The patient lives in Denton and was diagnosed with West Nile virus non-neuroinvasive disease Officials did not release additional information about the patient, citing confidentiality
“We’re seeing more positive mosquito traps in the last few weeks, indicating an increasing risk for contracting West Nile virus, just as we’ve seen in our first human case of the season,” Juan Rodriguez, the department’s assistant director and chief epidemiologist, said in a statement
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Denton County announced July 1 that a mosquito trap tested positive in an unincorporated area south of Hackberry and west of Frisco. The county also reported positive mosquito traps earlier in the season
Separately, Dallas County Health and Human Services West Nile Watch notices reported 26 positive mosquito pools from June 29 through July 10.Dallas, Collin and Tarrant counties reported mosquito activity but have not publicly announced a human West Nile virus case as of July 10. The notices did not indicate that any of the positive mosquito samples were connected to the Denton patient
Tarrant County Public Health announced its first positive mosquito samples of the 2026 season on May 14. The samples were collected in Fort Worth and Grand Prairie
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The Texas Department of State Health Services reported the state’s first human West Nile virus case of 2026 on May 19. The Harris County resident was diagnosed with West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease, the more serious form of the illness
According to the department, about 80% of people infected with West Nile virus develop no symptoms. Roughly 20% develop West Nile fever, which can cause fever, headache, nausea, fatigue and muscle or joint pain
Fewer than 1% develop neuroinvasive disease, which can cause tremors, convulsions, neck stiffness, disorientation, paralysis or death.Texas reported 976 human West Nile cases and 106 related deaths during the previous five years, according to the department. The state recorded 57 deaths in 2024 and nine in 2025, though figures for both years remain provisional
There is no human vaccine for West Nile virus. Health officials advise residents to use an EPA-registered insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, keep doors and windows screened and remove standing water around homes where mosquitoes can breed
