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Texas Reports First West Nile Virus Case

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Texas has its first human case of West Nile Virus this season. 

The Texas Department of State Health Services says the patient is an adult male from Anderson County, in East Texas.  Officials say the patient is recovering from the more serious neuroinvasive form of the disease.

Last year, Texas reported more than 1800 human cases of West Nile, and 89 deaths.  The Dallas-Fort Worth area accounted for about 50% of the state’s cases of the mosquito transmitted illness.

Last year, the worst West Nile year ever, Dallas County reported its first human case in late June. 

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.