Dallas County Health and Human Services confirmed the 18th death of a patient after having contracted West Nile virus.
The man who died was in his 70s and had underlying health conditions, the health department said. He lived in zip code 75001 in Addison.
Zachary Thompson, Dallas County health department director, confirmed that the death occurred a month ago but was just reported to the county on Monday.
The man who died was in his 70s and had underlying health conditions, the health department said.
With that victim, the total number of fatalities due to the virus reached 37 in North Texas.
Additionally, Tarrant County Public Health reported the ninth death after a patient contracted the virus in their area on Monday.
Over 1,000 human cases of West Nile virus have been confirmed by public health departments in the North Texas region.
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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.
