A woman in her 30s from North Richland Hills has become the 11th death associated with West Nile virus, the Tarrant County Public Health reported Tuesday.
The woman had underlying medical conditions, officials said.The woman was reported as having the West Nile Virus neuroinvasive disease in September, officials said in a news release.So far this year, Tarrant County has documented 275 cases of West Nile virus, 175 cases of West Nile fever and 100 cases of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease.Officials have been reminding residents that everyone is at risk of being affected by the virus, but people age 50 and older are at a higher risk of developing a severe infection.Symptoms include flu-like illness, with moderate to high fever of 102 degrees or more, powerful headache, severe muscle ache or joint pain, eye pain, mental changes, fatigue, nausea and respiratory ailments.People with symptoms should check with their physicians, the officials said.
Preventing West Nile Virus
The Tarrant County Public Health Department recommends the 4Ds.
Drain standing water on your property so mosquitoes won't breed.
Use insect repellent that contains DEET.
Stay indoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most prevalent.
Dress in long sleeves and pants and spray insect repellent on the clothes.
West Nile virus symptoms
Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will not have any type of illness or may experience mild fever, headache and body aches before fully recovering. If illness were to occur, it would occur within 3 to 15 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito.
Symptoms
Fever, headache and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands.
In a very few individuals, particularly the elderly, the virus can affect brain tissue, cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord), but more commonly presents as a febrile illness. Symptoms of encephalitis include rapid onset of severe headache, high fever, stiff neck (in meningitis), muscle weakness, confusion and loss of consciousness
Source: Tarrant County Public Health Department
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