A human case of mosquito-borne West Nile virus was confirmed in Palm Beach County this week for the first time since 2018.
The case was “purchased locally,” according to a press release from the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County. An exact location was not provided, nor was the person’s condition.
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After the confirmation of the case, “there is great concern that additional residents may become ill,” authorities said.
The two cases in 2018 were imported, which means that they were not purchased locally in the country.
The West Nile virus, which was first reported in the US in 1999, is generally transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Although the side effects can be serious, most infected people experience few or no symptoms and make a full recovery.
A small percentage of people infected with West Nile virus (about 1 in 5) develop a fever and may also experience headaches, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash, among other side effects. Even rarer, about 1 in 150 people who are infected with mosquito-related disease can develop a serious illness, such as inflammation of the spinal cord or brain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ).
The Mayo Clinic warns that older people, as well as those with pre-existing medical conditions, are more susceptible to the virus.
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There is no vaccine or treatment to prevent the disease, although there are preventive measures to decrease the risk of being bitten by a mosquito in the first place. For example, health officials advise:
- Drain water from trash cans, gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots, or any other container where sprinklers or rainwater has accumulated.
- Dispose of old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances, and other items that are not being used
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pet water bowls at least once or twice a week
- Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that do not collect water.
- Keep pools in good condition and properly chlorinated. Empty plastic pools when not in use.
Wearing long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active, is also helpful in preventing mosquito bites, as well as applying mosquito repellent “on bare skin and clothing,” authorities said.
