AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – The Texas Department of State Health Services reported three new confirmed cases of West Nile virus activity in Deaf Smith, Dallam and Castro counties, with now at least 26 confirmed instances of virus activity in the Texas Panhandle in 2025.
According to a Texas county summary published by Texas DSHS, instances of West Nile virus activity had been confirmed in the following Texas Panhandle counties:
- Potter County – Four instances in mosquitoes;
- Randall County – Eight instances in mosquitoes, one veterinary instance, four cases in humans and two instances of viral activity in blood donations;
- Armstrong County – One veterinary instance;
- Castro County – One veterinary instance and one case in a human;
- Dallam County – One case in a human;
- Deaf Smith County – One case in a human;
- Ochiltree County – One case in a human; and
- Parmer County – One instance in mosquitoes.
As noted in previous reports, instances of West Nile virus activity found in donated blood in Randall County have not been counted as “cases” of West Nile virus because of a lack of symptoms from the people involved.
How to protect yourself from West Nile virus
DSHS said West Nile virus is spread through a bite from an infected mosquito and can infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and other animals.
Most people with West Nile virus, which incubates between two and 14 days, will not develop illness. However, DSHS said 20% of infected people develop symptoms that can include a fever, headache, body aches, and occasionally a skin rash and swollen lymph glands…