The Tarrant County Health Department said 86 mosquito pools have tested positive for the virus.
TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Tarrant County Public Health confirmed the county’s first human case of West Nile virus for the 2026 season on Friday, July 24.
Health officials said the patient has the neuroinvasive form of West Nile virus, the more severe type of the disease. No additional information about the patient was released to protect their privacy.
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According to Tarrant County Public Health, the neuroinvasive form of West Nile virus can cause fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis and, in severe cases, coma. The illness can be life-threatening.
The more common form, known as West Nile fever, typically causes milder symptoms, including headache, fever, muscle and joint pain, nausea and fatigue. Most people recover without medical treatment, although symptoms can last for several weeks.
As of Friday, Tarrant County Public Health has identified 86 mosquito pools that have tested positive for West Nile virus this season, which runs from April through mid-November.
Last year, Tarrant County reported its first human West Nile virus case on June 25. Health officials recorded a total of 17 human cases during the 2025 season.
Denton County reported its first human case of West Nile virus on July 10.
Public health officials encourage residents to reduce their risk of infection by removing standing water around their homes, using EPA-approved insect repellent and wearing loose-fitting long sleeves and pants when outdoors, particularly during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
West Nile virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito and not contagious.