Texas’ First Positive Case of West Nile Virus in 2026

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has announced that the first Texan of 2026 to test positive for the mosquito-borne West Nile virus is in Harris County.

What is West Nile Virus?

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, West Nile virus is mostly spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Positive cases in humans typically spike around the summer months when mosquito activity is highest.

Read More: Texas Scientists Explain Why Mosquitoes Love You More Than Others

Fortunately, many people who test positive for West Nile do not develop any symptoms. However, in those cases where they do, these are some of the most common to keep an eye out for:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Rashes

In some severe cases, West Nile can affect the central nervous system of people who are infected, causing confusion, tremors, and even death. Those who are older, have existing medical conditions like cancer and diabetes, or have a weakened immune system are at higher risk.

If humans show symptoms of West Nile virus, they will usually be noticeable between 2-6 days after an infected mosquito's bite.

West Nile Cases in Texas

Over the past five years, there have been a total of 976 positive West Nile cases reported in Texas. A total of 106 people died from their symptoms, 57 of which were in 2024 alone.

Eliminating the Threat

The best way to reduce the risk of getting bitten by an infected mosquito is to avoid standing water around your house. This includes water buckets, flowerpots, kiddie pools, dog bowls, etc.

You should also ensure that your window screens are not compromised, and use air conditioning on hot days rather than keeping windows open.

The best defense on your person is long-sleeved shirts that are loose fitting, pants, and socks that stretch above your ankles during the day when mosquitoes are most active.

If you prefer to use repellants, any product with DEET or picaridin are most effective at keeping mosquitoes at bay.

You can learn more about West Nile virus and how best to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes from the DSHS website.