The Hidalgo County Health and Human Services' epidemiology team announced they've investigated 12 cases of West Nile Virus this year.

According to Peter Salinas, the department's liaison, nine of those cases suggest the possibility of local transmission.

Salinas said the individuals from those nine cases said they have not recently travelled outside the county or state. Official confirmation of locally acquired cases can only come from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

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"While we await final classification from Texas DSHS, the detection of positive West Nile Virus mosquito pools in nearby counties, including Cameron, Nueces, Webb, Kleberg, and Jim Wells, adds to the likelihood of local transmission in Hidalgo County," Salinas said.

The epidemiology team is collaborating with local municipalities in collecting and submitting mosquito samples for testing to the state health department, according to Salinas.

He said the results have been negative.