TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas -- The Texas Department of State Health (DSHS) on Tuesday confirmed a case of West Nile illness in Travis County.
In addition, cases of West Nile illness were noted in Dallas County and Galveston County.
You can be infected with the West Nile virus via a bite by an infected mosquito. It’s recommended you prevent bites by applying insect repellent while outdoors, using air conditioning in your home or making sure your screens are in good condition and covering your body with long sleeves and long pants.
In 2017, there were 135 reported cases of West Nile illness in Texas resulting in six deaths.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are no vaccines to prevent or treat West Nile virus. However, in most cases people who catch the virus never develop symptoms.
About one in five people who get the virus will develop a fever and other symptoms. About one in 150 infected people will develop a serious, occasionally fatal illness.
More prevention tips from the CDC are available here.