Tarrant County reports its first confirmed case of West Nile virus for 2025
The first case of the West Nile virus this year has been confirmed in Tarrant County, according to Tarrant County Public Health.
TCPH says that the case involves the non-neuroinvasive form of the disease, which is also known as West Nile fever. In order to protect the patient’s privacy, the health department will not release any additional details.
West Nile fever is considered to be a milder form of the West Nile virus, with symptoms including headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea, and fatigue.
Most people recover from the fever without medical treatment, although symptoms can persist for several weeks, according to Tarrant County Public Health.
The neuroinvasive form of West Nile virus is a more severe virus and those infected may have a fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, or paralysis. This form of the virus can be life-threatening.
Only about 20 percent of patients infected with the West Nile virus develop symptoms, with serious cases remaining rare, according to TCPH.
Currently, TCPH has identified 17 West Nile virus positive mosquito pools in Tarrant County. Mosquito surveillance and testing, which runs from April through mid-November, will continue throughout this season.
In 2024, there were 71 human cases of West Nile disease reported to Tarrant County Public Health.
Reduce your risk of West Nile virus
To reduce the risk of infection, TCPH urges all residents to:
- Regularly empty or treat standing water on your property using mosquito larvicide dunks.
- Use EPA-approved insect repellents, such as those containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone.
- Wear loose-fitting long sleeves and pants when outdoors, especially during dawn and dusk.
- Treat front and back door areas of homes with residual insecticides if mosquitoes are in abundance nearby.
For more information about the West Nile virus, visit Be Mosquito Free.
This story was originally published July 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM.