East Texas Woman Treated for West Nile

LUFKIN — Hospital officials have confirmed the first West Nile Virus case in Deep East Texas. According to KETK, a woman was recently diagnosed with the virus and is being treated at their hospital. Officials said all of the woman’s health records will be sent to the state. West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne illness. Up to 80 percent of people infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms. However, some infections can result in serious illness or death. People over 50 years of age and those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill if they become infected with the virus. West Nile virus activity has also been reported in the East Texas counties of Anderson and Gregg. There have been 176 cases of reported West Nile in Texas this year.