Arlington Man Dies After Contracting West Nile Virus

Death is the second of the season for Tarrant County

The Tarrant County Public Health Department says a second person has died in the county after contracting the West Nile virus this season.

According to the department, the victim was an Arlington man in his 70s who had underlying medical conditions.

The first death of the year was a man who lived in South Fort Worth who was in his 30s who also had underlying medical conditions.

In both cases, the men were known to have contracted the virus before they died.

During this season, there have been only five human cases of West Nile virus reported in Tarrant County.  The other three cases include two women, one in her 80s and the other in her 40s, who both suffered from West Nile Fever, and a Keller man in his 60s with the neuroinvasive form of the disease.

In 2012, 40 North Texans died after contracting the West Nile virus, 11 of whom who were in Tarrant County.  That same year, 280 people were reported to have contracted the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, "The easiest and best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito bites.

  • When you are outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient. Follow the directions on the package.
  • Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants at these times or consider staying indoors during these hours.
  • Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
  • Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren't being used."
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