The Texas Department of State Health confirmed the first North Texas human case of West Nile virus in Kaufman County overnight.
Officials said a man contracted West Nile fever June 18 after being bitten by several mosquitoes in the Travis Ranch subdivision, a community outside of Forney's city limits near Lake Ray Hubbard in Kaufman County.
"You can see an increase in all the different bugs, especially the mosquitoes," said neighbor Maria Herron.
The man's wife tells NBCDFW he is middle-aged, healthy and was treated for flu-like symptoms.
Because the neighborhood is outside Forney's city limits and it's in Kaufman County, which does not spray for mosquitoes, it falls on the home owners association to spray.
The HOA took action two weeks ago, it contracted with the same company that sprays the City of Forney and is spraying on the city's schedule.
The City of Forney will spray for mosquitoes between 8:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the following schedule through September:
Monday, July 6, 2015, North of US Hwy 80
Tuesday, July 7, 2015, South of US Hwy 80
Wednesday July 8, 2015 Parks, Off Road & Creeks
Sunday July 19, 2015 Parks, Off Road & Creeks
Monday July 20, 2015 North of Hwy 80
Tuesday July 21, 2015 South of Hwy 80
Wednesday August 5, 2015 Parks, Off Road & Creeks
Sunday August 16, 2015 Parks, Off Road & Creeks
Monday August 17, 2015 North of Hwy 80
Tuesday August 18, 2015 South of Hwy 80
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Wednesday September 2, 2014 Parks, Off Road & Creeks
Sunday September 20, 2015 Parks, Off Road & Creeks
Monday September 21, 2015 North of Hwy 80
Tuesday September 22, 2015 South of Hwy 80
Kaufman County officials said despite a West Nile fever case, residents shouldn't be alarmed but should take extra precautions like spraying their own yard and wearing insect repellent.
"This is something that happens every year in our county at this time and one case in our county is not something that rises to a level of serious concern," said Kaufman County Emergency Manager Steve Howie.
A Harris County resident contracted the more serious neuroinvasive form of the disease in May to become the first Texas case.
There were 379 human cases of West Nile illness in Texas last year, including six deaths.
Online: West Nile virus in Texas | TDSHS - West Nile Virus in Texas
