The Tarrant County health department said Tuesday that a North Richland Hills woman with West Nile virus has died.
The victim was a woman in her 30s with underlying medical conditions, Tarrant County Public Health said. Her case of the neuroinvasive form of West Nile virus was first reported two months ago.
In North Texas, a total of 39 people have died after contracting the disease.
More than 1,000 human cases of the disease have been reported in the North Texas area this year.
West Nile Virus Facts
Most people bitten by a West Nile virus-infected mosquito will not show any symptoms. Symptoms, if they appear, are fever, headache, nausea, body aches, swollen lymph nodes and skin rashes.
Fewer than 1 percent of those infected with West Nile virus experience the serious form of the illness. Serious symptoms include high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors or convulsions, vision loss, muscle weakness and numbness or paralysis.
North Texas health officials are urging residents to:
- Drain standing water around their homes to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.
- Dress in pants and long sleeves when outside, but avoid becoming too hot.
- Apply an insect repellent that contains DEET to exposed skin and to clothing when outdoors.
- Stay indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
NBC 5's Kevin Cokely contributed to this report.
