HOUSTON — The Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus in Texas for 2026 was reported in Harris County. The resident was diagnosed with West Nile neuroinvasive disease, the most serious form of the virus, which can affect the brain and nervous system.

"West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses are a fact of life in Texas in the warmer months, and all Texans should take precautions against mosquito bites to stay safe and healthy," DSHS Commissioner Dr. Jennifer Shuford said.

Most people infected with West Nile virus never develop symptoms, according to health officials. About 20% of infected people can experience West Nile fever, with common symptoms including fever, headache, body aches, fatigue and rash. Less than 1% of infected people develop neuroinvasive disease, which can cause severe neurological complications including tremors, convulsions, neck stiffness, paralysis and disorientation.

Texas has reported 976 total West Nile cases over the last five years, including 106 deaths linked to the virus. Rain has continued to move across the Houston area, and the wet weather is creating conditions in which mosquitoes can breed.

State health leaders say preventing mosquito bites is the best way to reduce the risk of infection. Recommended measures include dumping standing water around homes, cleaning clogged gutters, emptying buckets, flower pots and kiddie pools, keeping pet bowls and bird baths clean, wearing long sleeves and pants outdoors, using insect repellent with DEET or picaridin, repairing window and door screens and keeping grass and bushes trimmed. Mosquitoes are especially active during the early morning and evening hours.

Officials also warned Texans to continue taking mosquito precautions while traveling internationally, especially to tropical and subtropical regions where illnesses like dengue, chikungunya and Zika are more common.