> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 23 Deaths in Dallas, Texas Linked to West Nile Virus Disease - URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/west_nile_treatment_082520120102/ - Published: 2012-08-25T14:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-22T15:55:26.000Z - Description: Texas reported 23 deaths linked to West Nile virus as of Aug 23, 10 of them in Dallas County, while the CDC counted 41 nationally. A CDC study of 1,090 cases found chronic kidney disease, cancer history, alcohol abuse, diabetes and hypertension raised the odds of severe illness. - Author: Food Consumer - Tags: Disease, Health News, #vivvo-import By David Liu, PHD Saturday Aug 25, 2012 ([foodconsumer.org](http://www.foodconsumer.org/)) -- Texas Department of State Health Services updated on Aug 23rd West Nile virus activity in Texas saying that the state has seen 23 deaths associated with Wes Nile virus infection with Dallas county alone suffering 10 deaths. In addition to Dallas. counties reporting deaths associated with West Nile virus include Bell (1),Concho (1), Denton (1), Ellis (1), Gregg (1), Harris (1), McLennan (1), Terrant (3), Travis (1), Wharton (1) and Williamson (1). Recent West nile reports have drawn attention from residents in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, Kansas, and South Carolina. The centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Aug 22 updated West Nile status on its website saying that thus far, 41 deaths have been reported associated with West nile infection. The health agency did not reveal the health conditions of the dead prior to their contacting the virus, but likely they were immunity compromised, according to a recent study. Researchers at the CDC has conducted the study based on data obtained early and found serious complications from West Nile virus infection occur often in people who have chronic kidney disease, history of cancer, history of alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus, or hypertension. Nicole P. Lindsey and colleagues studied 1090 cases of west nile virus infection to examine how existing medical conditions are associated with severe outcomes of the infection including death, hospitalization, neuroinvasive diseases. They found people had chronic renal disease, history of cancer, history of alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were 310%, 270%, 200%, 120% and 50 percent more likely to suffer severe illness induced by west nile virus infection, respectively, compared to those without these prior medical conditions. All the named medical conditions were linked to increased risk for encephalitis in patients exposed to west nile virus, the researchers found. But only those with high blood pressure were at high risk for meningitis and at high risk of death were only those who had immunity suppressed or compromised. The Texas department of health website states that West Nile disease is a mosquito-borne illness that leads to no symptoms in up to 80 percent of infected people. For these asymptomatic people, no treatment is needed. However, the illness can pose a life-threatening risk to the elderly and those with immunity compromised such such HIV/AIDS patients, cancer patients and organ transplant recipients. CDC West Nile reports are updated more slowly than those by individual states. Readers are advised to visit state websites for current information about west nile virus including west nile as a disease, west nile and mosquito, and west nile symptoms and treatment. West nile disease is featured with symptoms including fever, headaches, tiredness, and body aches occasionally with a skin rash and swollen lymph glands. The symptoms can last as short as a few days and as long as several weeks. Severe West Nile symptoms indicative of severe disease (also called neuroinvasive disease, such as West Nile encephalitis or meningitis or West Nile poliomyelitis) include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis, according to the CDC. CDC suggests that if you suffer high fever with severe headaches, you should consult your health care provider just in case you acquired west nile virus and suffer meningitis or encephalitis, two most serious conditions. You should do this, particularly if you have some medical conditions like having a suppressed or compromised immune system or the medical conditions often implicated in severe outcomes. West nile treatment is not available. In severe cases, supportive care is provided like hospitalization, intravenous fluids, respiratory support and prevention of secondary infections etc. Good news is that only very few people who have certain medical conditions are at risk of severe disease. These individuals should do whatever measures necessary to prevent mosquito bites.