Tarrant County Confirms First Positive Human Case of West Nile Virus

July 3, 2025 – (Tarrant County, TX) –Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) reports the first case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the County for the 2025 season. The case involves the non-neuroinvasive form of the disease, also known as West Nile fever. To protect the patient’s privacy, no additional details are being released. 

West Nile fever is considered the milder form of the virus. Common symptoms include headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea, and fatigue. Most individuals recover without medical treatment, though symptoms can persist for several weeks.

The neuroinvasive form of West Nile Virus is more severe and may present with fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, or paralysis. This form can be life-threatening. 

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, only about 20 percent of those infected with WNV will develop symptoms, and serious cases remain rare.

As of today, TCPH has identified 17 WNV-positive mosquito pools in Tarrant County. Mosquito surveillance and testing will continue throughout the season, which runs from April through mid-November. In 2024, TCPH reported 71 human cases of West Nile disease. 

TCPH urges all residents to take the following precautions to reduce their risk of infection: 

• Regularly empty or treat standing water on your property using mosquito larvicide dunks.
• Use EPA-approved insect repellents, such as those containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone.
• Wear loose-fitting long sleeves and pants when outdoors, especially during dawn and dusk.
• Treat front and back door areas of homes with residual insecticides if mosquitoes are in abundance nearby.

For more information about West Nile Virus, visit the Be Mosquito Free webpage.