West Nile Virus

• Outdoor Workers (CDC)
• Pregnant & Nursing (CDC)
• Transplant Recipients (CDC)

West Nile Virus Sample Submission

• Laboratory Specimen Requirements
• Local Contacts 

Additional Resources for Professionals

• Clinical Signs and Symptoms of West Nile Virus Disease | West Nile Virus | CDC (CDC)
• Diagnostic Testing (CDC)
• Treatment and Prevention of West Nile Virus Disease | West Nile Virus | CDC (CDC)
• Guidelines for West Nile Virus Surveillance and Control | West Nile Virus | CDC (CDC )

Weekly and Annual Arbovirus Statistics

• Annual Summaries for Arbovirus Activity in Texas  
• DSHS Arbovirus Weekly Activity Report
• Historical Case Counts

Maps by Year

• Maps of West Nile Virus Activity

• Laboratory Testing Services Manual - Guidelines for Specimen Collection and Submission | Texas DSHS - DSHS Laboratory information on submitting samples for testing humans for West Nile virus (and other microbes). 

• Mosquito Specimens - links to the Arbovirus Lab’s detailed specimen collection guidance

• Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Workers | Outdoor | CDC
• News Releases 
• TAMU AgriLife Extension’s Mosquito Safari
• TexasZika.org Materials
• West Nile Videos

A bite from an infected mosquito can spread the West Nile virus. There is no evidence that West Nile virus spreads from animal to person or from person to person except in rare cases through blood product transfusion, tissue transplantation, or mother to baby.

Most people infected with West Nile virus – about 80%- will not develop illness. Twenty percent of infected people develop a typically mild form of the disease (West Nile fever), which may include  fever, headache, body aches, and occasionally a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands. Only about one out of 150 people infected with West Nile virus will develop the more severe form of the disease (West Nile neuroinvasive disease), which may affect the brain and spinal cord. The signs and symptoms of severe disease may include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. 

The incubation period of West Nile virus in humans is two to 14 days. Signs and symptoms of mild disease may last a few days. Signs and symptoms of severe disease may last several weeks or months, although neurological effects may be permanent. Rarely, death can occur.

There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus infection. 

While there is an effective vaccine for horses, there is currently no human vaccine for West Nile virus.  

Though West Nile disease is more common in warmer months, there may be year-round risk of infection in warmer parts of the state, so protect yourself whenever there is mosquito activity.

Preventing mosquito bites is the best way to avoid the West Nile virus. Declare WAR on mosquitoes. 

• Mosquito Control at home
• Preventing West Nile - Prevention Tips