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West Nile Claims Another Dallas Resident

Texas is in a stand-off with the federal government over a program that provides health services for low-income Texas women.
Tim Baker
/
flickr
Texas is in a stand-off with the federal government over a program that provides health services for low-income Texas women.

Dallas County is reporting an eighth death from West Nile virus.

Health officials say the patient lived in the 75229 zip code in northwest Dallas. That’s the area bounded on the east and west by Preston, and Luna from Walnut Hill to Forest. The patient, a woman in her 90’s, had the neuroinvasive strain of the illness.

Health officials say of the 141 West Nile cases, nearly three-fourths have the more serious strain that affects the nervous system – causing fatigue, fever, mental confusion and paralysis.

In Dallas County, the population of West Nile cases is over age 50, and most are male.

Denton County has reported its first death from West Nile: a man in his 90’s with underlying medical conditions.

Tarrant County reports 110 cases and one death.

Former KERA reporter BJ Austin spent more than 25 years in broadcast journalism, anchoring and reporting in Atlanta, New York, New Orleans and Dallas. Along the way, she covered Atlanta City Hall, the Georgia Legislature and the corruption trials of Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards.