ALEXANDRIA, La. – A Simpson man could be the state's first probable human case of the West Nile virus for 2012.
Donnie merchant's wife, Lisa, tells NewsChannel 5/CBS 2 he died last Thursday in a Dallas hospital from complications of the West Nile virus.
Merchant says her husband had a lung transplant and then was diagnosed with lung cancer. His immune system was weak, she says.
He became sick around June 26 and then died last week.
Merchant says the doctors told her Donnie was bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus.
Donnie Merchant was the postmaster of Simpson for more than 30 years.
He's survived by his wife and several children and grandchildren.
