Dallas County health officials are reporting the county's sixth, seventh and eighth human cases of West Nile virus of the 2015 season Tuesday.
It comes hours after the county reported its first death from West Nile virus this season.
The sixth human case involves a person who lives in 75051 zip code and was diagnosed with the more serious West Nile neuroinvasive disease, according to Dallas County Health and Human Services. The case was previously listed in the city of Grand Prairie, however it has since been reclassified as the resident lives in the city of Dallas.
The seventh and eighth cases are located in the 75248 zip code and also involve West Nile neuroinvasive disease.
Symptoms of West Nile neuroinvasive disease include neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. The neuroinvasive form of the disease can be deadly.
- Dress in long sleeves, pants when outside: For extra protection, spray thin clothing with repellent.
- DEET: Make sure this ingredient is in your insect repellent.
- Drain standing water in your yard and neighborhood: Mosquitoes can develop in any water stagnant for more than three days.
It has been recommended in the past that to avoid mosquito bites you should avoid being outdoors during Dusk and Dawn (the 4 Ds). While this is true for mosquitoes that commonly carry the West Nile virus, other types of mosquitoes that are more likely to carry Zika, dengue and chikungunya are active during the day. When outdoors, no matter what time of day, adjust your dress accordingly and wear insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus as your first line of defense against insect bites.
