WNV in Texas, USA

On 7 April 2022, Dallas County Health and Human Services reported the first case this year of West Nile fever in Dallas, USA.

West Nile fever is caused by West Nile virus (WNV) and occurs annually in the USA. The virus is spread by mosquito bites and can cause a flu-like illness and rarely, severe disease.

Advice for travellers 

• there is no vaccine against WNV 
• mosquito bite avoidance should be practiced at all times, especially during peak transmission times and when outbreaks are known to be occurring 
• medical advice should be sought if symptoms develop, following travel to a risk area 
• blood donors should note that if they have travelled to an area where WNV has been detected in the past four months, they may need to be tested for the virus before donating blood. The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service can be contacted for further details

Further advice and information is available on the TRAVAX (for health professionals) and fitfortravel (for the general public) websites.

Source: TRAVAX, 13 April 2022