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Nile Virus confirmed in First Texan HOUSTON -- The Houston Health and Human Services Department today confirmed that a 50-year-old Orange County has the West Nile virus. Officials made the announcement during a news conference at the Houston Veteran's Affairs Medical Center. Officials said Richard Hicks had contracted the potentially fatal virus and is in stable condition. They say he's beginning to make a recovery. Hicks, who is from a part of the state where horses have been diagnosed with the mosquito-borne disease, was admitted to the hospital on Friday. Until now, only birds and horses have tested positive for West Nile in Texas. Health officials also said that tests done yesterday show that a 74-year-old northwest Harris County resident might have had the virus. The man was hospitalized on July 16th and released on Sunday. Officials say he has made a full recovery. They're waiting on final test results. West Nile was first identified in Texas last month in two dead blue jays found in west Harris County. Copyright © 2003, The Associated
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