The virus was first reported in the U.S. in 1999 and it was first known to have arrived in Dallas County in 2002. Dallas County reported its most severe years of the virus in 2012, when aerial spraying was done to kill mosquitoes and combat the spread of the virus, and then in 2016 and 2020.
In 2020, Dallas County reported a significant increase in WNV disease prevalence with 20 human cases, five fatalities and 498 positive mosquito tests. In the previous high years, there were 274 positive tests and 398 human cases in 2012; 705 positive tests, and 61 human cases in 2016.
"Even though we still need to be concentrating on how to live safely with COVID-19, we cannot forget about West Nile virus. As the summer heats up and more people are getting outside, remember the four D's: Dress, Drain, Dusk/Dawn, and DEET," said Dr. Philip Huang, Director of DCHHS.