West Nile Virus Cases, Deaths Statewide
By: Becca Aaronson, TexasTribune.org
Updated: August 28, 2012
North Texas has been hit with the worst outbreak of the virus, with more than 200 cases reported in Dallas County and at least 174 cases reported in Tarrant County. As The Dallas Morning News reports, the death count in Dallas increased to 12 since the DSHS released the counts used to make this interactive. And the county is continuing to spray insecticide to kill mosquitoes in high-risk areas.
The majority of the cases reported in Texas, nearly 400, have resulted in West Nile neuroinvasive disease, which occurs when the virus penetrates the blood brain barrier. In worst-case scenarios, West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease could lead to long-term fatigue, vision loss, paralysis -- or even death. There's also been 331 cases of the milder version of the virus, called West Nile fever, which includes symptoms such as abdominal pain, gastrointestinal problems, fever, rashes, muscle aches and weakness.
You can find more information on the West Nile Virus here.
For an interactive map of areas in Texas affected by the virus, click here.
