Dallas County health officials on Monday reported the first West Nile Virus death of the 2025 season.
According to a news release from the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department, the man who died was in his 70s and was suffering from underlying medical conditions.
The man had been diagnosed with the more serious neuroinvasive form of the disease known as West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease, the release said.
The identity of the man was not released to the public.
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“We are very saddened to report our first confirmed WNV death this season,” Dr. Philip Huang, the county health director, said in the release. “Cooler temperatures are coming, but mosquitoes are still a threat.”
County health officials recommended four tips to avoid contracting the illness:
- DEET: Whenever outside, use insect repellents that have the active ingredient DEET or other EPA-registered repellents, and always follow label instructions.
- DRESS: Wear long, loose, and light-colored clothing outside.
- DRAIN: Drain or treat all standing water in and around your home or workplace where mosquitoes could lay eggs.
- DUSK to DAWN: Limit your time outdoors from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
DCHHS has found 245 positive traps within the county and reported eight human West Nile Virus, according to the release.
The release said monitoring for the virus runs from April through mid-November.