A North Texas man has died after contracting West Nile Virus.
The 67-year-old Parker County resident died last week after feeling flu-like symptoms, according to NBC 5 DFW. Although the death has not yet been officially ruled as having been caused by the mosquito-borne illness, a wet spring in the area has led to a considerably heightened threat.
For instance, in June, roughly twice the number of mosquitos infected with West Nile Virus in Dallas County were trapped compared to the year before.
As Dranda Hopps shared with NBC 5, her husband Gary had taken several precautions against mosquitos while working in their yard in Springtown after several days of rain in June.
He wore a long-sleeved shirt, pants, boots, gloves, and a hat as he trimmed their ditch.
“We thought we need to get out there and weed-eat before mosquitos start coming in,” Dranda told NBC 5.
His precautions proved insufficient, and he started feeling flu-like symptoms a few days later.
Gary was experiencing weakness and vomiting before a primary care physician told them over the phone to head to the emergency room.
“I noticed a few days later while he was in the hospital that he did have a mosquito bite between his index and thumb,” Dranda said, per NBC 5.
The doctors performed a lumbar puncture the following week after he was admitted. The doctors then told Dranda that her husband had contracted West Nile Virus.
She was told little could be done, and she was faced with the choice of deciding whether or not to put Gary on life support.
Dranda told NBC 5 that life support was something that Gary had always been against.
“It was hard for me to keep that promise to him, but I did,” she told NBC 5.
He died a few days later at his home at the age of 67.
According to a press release issued by the City of Springtown on Wednesday, local officials have not received official confirmation of human cases of West Nile Virus in the jurisdiction.
“The City of Springtown is aware of claims of human cases of West Nile Virus within the city limits of Springtown. As of this afternoon, July 3, the City has received no official notification or confirmation of any human cases of West Nile Virus in our jurisdiction.
“The City will remain in contact with state health officials, and if the City is notified of a confirmed case, we will make the appropriate public notifications to the community.”
Current data for West Nile Virus cases can be accessed here.