Nashville Man Dies from West Nile Virus

Number of numan West Nile Cases in Tennessee, as of last week. (Image: US Geological Survey)

A Nashville man is the first in Tennessee to die this year from West Nile Virus. The 70 year old died from the mosquito-borne illness last week. His name hasn’t been released, but the health department says he suffered from an ‘underlying health condition’ in addition to West Nile.

Mosquitoes throughout the county have tested positive for the virus. Pockets have been found in North Nashville, Antioch, and Goodlettsvile. Health officials try to control spread of the virus by setting up traps and monitoring pools of standing water—which are fertile breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

In Tennessee, there have been nearly thirty human cases of West Nile this year, most of them in Shelby County.

Of all the states, Texas has seen the most—more than 600.