TRAVIS COUNTY -- A second person in Travis County has died from West Nile virus, according to the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department.
The department says the person who died matched the Centers for Disease Control's profile for those at highest risk of developing a severe form of the illness -- those over 50 years of age.
As of Tuesday, there are 48 confirmed human cases of the virus.
The health department encourages Travis County residents to do their part to get rid of any standing water. If there are a lot of mosquitoes near you, call the health department at 512-978-0370.
They also encourage everyone to abide by the four D's:
Dusk and Dawn: Stay indoors during dusk and dawn. That’s the time when mosquitoes likely to carry the infection are most active.
Dress: Wear pants and long sleeves when you are outside, especially in mosquito-infested areas.
DEET: Apply insect repellent that contains DEET. Read and follow label instructions. Spray both exposed skin and clothing with repellent.
Drain: Get rid of standing water in your yard and neighborhood. Old tires, flowerpots, clogged rain gutters leaky pipes and faucets, birdbaths and wading pools can be breeding sites for mosquitoes.
The health department says symptoms of West Nile Virus include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last from a few days to several weeks and neurological effects may be permanent.
Click here for more information on West Nile virus from the CDC.
