CORPUS CHRISTI (Kiii News) -
There have been close to 200 human cases of West Nile virus confirmed in the State of Texas, one of them in Corpus Christi.
Four people have died from it this year. One Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi professor explained why the West Nile virus is among us even though we've had a lack of rain.
"The stagnant water that's around is a life boat, so they're going to take advantage," said Dr. Gregory Buck, associate professor of life sciences at TAMUCC. "Birds are going to come there. They're going to gather. They're going to get bitten by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes will be a vector, and transport it back to humans."
A local woman in her 20s had to be hospitalized after contracting the West Nile virus. She was the first human victim of West Nile in Nueces County. She has since recovered and is doing well.
Buck said the best way to avoid coming in contact is to wear long sleeves and pants when outside, and use mosquito spray containing DEET.
