Texas confirms – Texas health authorities reported the first West Nile virus case of 2026 near Houston, involving a Harris County resident who became ill on May 19. Officials also pointed to rising mosquito counts and more positive tests, while reminding Texans that most infec
When mosquito season turns the corner into late spring. most people in Texas assume West Nile is just something to watch for in the summer news cycle. On Tuesday. May 19. a Harris County resident became ill with the mosquito-borne disease—one of the first signals that officials have been monitoring closely as mosquito counts and positive tests climb.
Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed the first West Nile virus case in the state in 2026 near Houston. The agency said the illness began Tuesday, May 19, and warned Texans not to relax as temperatures rise.
“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,” said DSHS Commissioner Dr. Jennifer Shuford in a statement.
DSHS also linked the case to what health departments have been seeing in the field: the number of mosquitoes trapped and positive tests are on the rise.
Across the state, the long record shows why officials keep emphasizing prevention. Over the past five years, Texas has recorded 976 total West Nile cases, including West Nile fever and West Nile neuroinvasive disease. During that same span, there were 106 deaths attributed to West Nile.
Fatality numbers have shifted year to year. In 2024, Texas recorded the most deaths at 57. In 2025, fatalities were the fewest at 9.
For many infected people, the disease doesn’t announce itself. DSHS said roughly 80% of people infected with West Nile never experience symptoms. The remaining 20% develop West Nile fever, with symptoms that can include fever, headache, nausea, muscle and joint aches, and fatigue.
Less than 1% of infected people develop West Nile neuroinvasive disease, a more serious neurological illness that can involve tremors, convulsions, neck stiffness, disorientation, paralysis, and even death.
How it spreads is straightforward—at least biologically. Humans can become infected from a bite from an infected mosquito. DSHS said there is no evidence that West Nile virus spreads from animal to person or from person to person. except in rare cases involving blood product transfusion. tissue transplantation. or mother-to-baby transmission.
When people hear “virus,” they often look for a drug or a shot. DSHS said there is no specific treatment for West Nile virus infections, and there is no vaccine for humans.
That leaves prevention as the main line of defense—and the guidance is specific. The Centers for Disease Control recommends draining standing water to remove water from flowerpots, buckets, pet bowls, birdbaths, and gutters, including standing water inside the home, to stop mosquitoes from breeding.
The CDC also advises using insect repellent registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, limiting outdoor activities during dusk and dawn—peak mosquito hours—and dressing in long sleeves and pants. For added protection, the CDC says to spray repellent on clothes.
If mosquito numbers become too high or if mosquitoes are found to be infected, CDC guidance says mosquito control professionals may use products to kill mosquito larvae (larvicides) or adult mosquitoes (adulticides).
Those steps can also help reduce risk from other mosquito-borne viruses. DSHS has noted a global rise in cases of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, and said the same prevention measures apply.
The sequence in Texas is becoming familiar by geography and timing: a confirmed case near Houston. rising mosquito monitoring results. and the same set of symptoms and prevention steps DSHS and the CDC have repeated for years. The difference now is the date on the calendar—Tuesday, May 19—and the message that this season is already moving.
For more information, Texans can visit the DSHS mosquito-borne diseases site.
West Nile virus Texas Harris County Houston mosquito season DSHS CDC mosquito-borne illnesses prevention insect repellent larvicides adulticides