Second West Nile infection in El Paso
A second case of West Nile Virus has been confirmed in El Paso this season.
The Department of Public Health said the patient is a man in his early 70s who lives in West El Paso. He has underlying medical conditions but is recovering from the infection, according to health officials.
The first case this season involved another man living on the west side, in his early 20s.
City health leaders are asking everyone regardless of where they live to be proactive in protecting themselves and their families from infection.
“With rain expected in our area over the next several days, we need to be sure to empty any standing water in order to prevent breeding the mosquitoes that carry this disease,” said Department of Public Health Lead Epidemiologist Fernando Gonzalez in a news release.
El Paso’s public health leaders confirmed 14 human cases of West Nile last year. No one has died from the infection since 2015.
The Department of Public Health is asking residents to reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases by using insect repellents that contain DEET when outdoors; wearing long sleeves, long pants, and socks; avoiding outdoor activities during dusk to dawn; and draining standing water on their property.
