A Brazos County resident has tested positive for West Nile virus, marking the first reported case of 2025 in Texas, according to state health officials.
BRAZOS COUNTY, Texas — The first confirmed Texas case of West Nile illness this year has been reported in a Brazos County resident, state health officials said Tuesday.
The Department of State Health Services verified the patient was diagnosed with the West Nile Virus fever on June 24, marking the state’s first infection of 2025. No additional details about the resident were released.
“Texans should be aware that mosquitoes transmit disease, and some of these illnesses, like West Nile and dengue, can be severe,” DSHS Commissioner Dr. Jennifer A. Shuford said in a statement. “But taking steps to prevent mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding areas around homes are proactive measures that can reduce the risk of mosquito‑borne illness.”
Roughly 80% of people infected with West Nile virus never feel sick, according to DSHS. The remainder may develop fever, headache, nausea, fatigue or muscle and joint pain. Fewer than 1% contract the neuroinvasive form, which attacks the nervous system and can lead to paralysis, tremors, disorientation or death.
Health officials urged anyone who experiences West Nile Virus symptoms to contact a doctor and report any recent mosquito exposure.
Additional recommendations:
- Wear long sleeves and pants to block bites.
- Apply an EPA‑registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para‑menthane‑diol or 2‑undecanone.
- Keep doors and windows closed or screened.
- Eliminate standing water in items such as toys, tires, buckets and plant pots where mosquitoes breed.
More tips include changing pet water daily, scrubbing indoor water containers weekly, keeping pools chlorinated and using larvicide dunks where water cannot be drained.
Texas recorded 455 West Nile cases and 56 deaths in 2024, according to provisional figures. Over the past five years, the state has logged 929 cases and 122 deaths. Dengue also remains a concern, with 241 cases reported last year, including two acquired locally.
Mosquitoes typically remain active in much of Texas through November and December, officials said, underscoring the need for season‑long vigilance.
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