West Nile Case Reported In Texas. Here’s How To Avoid It.

We've hit the time of year in Amarillo where the mosquitoes are buzzing around and annoying us to no end. It seems no matter where you are, they're hovering, waiting to land on you for their next meal, courtesy of you.

Now, if you have Type O blood, you're probably better off just hanging out inside during mosquito season. A study shows that for whatever reason, that is the blood type they prefer, and they can sniff it out.

Now, we've got a confirmed case of West Nile here in Texas, and no doubt that means more cases are coming. The confirmed case happened in Montgomery County, but considering the area we live in and the amount of mosquitoes flying around here, there's always the chance it hits right here in West Texas.

Texas Department of State Health Services collected 800 mosquito samples in 24 counties that presented West Nile virus. That seems like quite a few samples with it, which means there are thousands upon thousands flying around out there carrying it.

So what are the symptoms of West Nile? Well, let's just say there's a lot, and many of them present as a normal flu or cold. Fever, headache, body aches, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, etc. are all symptoms of it. More severe symptoms can include neck stiffness, muscle weakness, disorientation, and high fever.

Extreme cases can lead to seizures, coma, and even death. So yes, it's not something to be taken lightly.

So how can you help avoid mosquitoes hanging around you? If you have standing water anywhere around your residence, try and drain it the best you can. That's their favorite spot to hang out. If you're going to an area that is known to have a lot of mosquitoes, think about wearing sleeves and long pants, no matter how warm it is outside. Wearing insect repellent is also highly recommended.