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Texas Can't Swat Its West Nile Outbreak

CDC/ James Stewart

The Texas Department of State Health Services say the number of West Nile virus cases and deaths in the state have more than doubled over the past two weeks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Texas continues to lead the country in the number of cases of West Nile. According to the CDC, nearly 800 people across the state have been infected. More than 30 have died.

The outbreak continues to be centered around the Dallas area but Travis and Williamson counties have seen a combined total of 42 confirmed casesincluding two deaths.Dr. Philip Huang is the Medical Director for Travis County Health and Human Services.

“Yeah, with our latest numbers, as I mentioned, we have 36 West Nile virus cases that have been identified in Travis County. Twenty of them were the neuroinvasive and 16 are the milder West Nile fever," Huang says.

Huang says the virus isn’t clustered in any one area of Travis County.

Laura first joined the KUT team in April 2012. She now works for the statewide program Texas Standard as a reporter and producer. Laura came to KUT from the world of television news. She has worn many different hats as an anchor, reporter and producer at TV stations in Austin, Amarillo and Toledo, OH. Laura is a proud graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, a triathlete and enjoys travel, film and a good beer. She enjoys spending time with her husband and pets.
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