Several local health departments across the U.S. have alerted residents to the presence of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus. These warnings come from states nationwide.
In New York, Suffolk County reported on Monday that 16 mosquito samples tested positive for the virus, bringing the season’s total to 32 positive samples. In New Jersey, Cape May County health officials announced they detected seven positive West Nile virus samples in June and July. Denton County Public Health (DCPH) in Texas also reported five mosquito traps testing positive on Monday. The affected areas in Denton County will be fogged three times in the coming days.
On Tuesday, DCPH confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus in the county for 2024. The patient has West Nile Virus Neuroinvasive Disease, a severe form of the virus that can cause death or long-term disability.
“We’re seeing more positive mosquito traps in the last few weeks indicating increasing risk for contracting West Nile Virus, just as we’ve seen in our first human case of the summer,” said DCPH Assistant Director and Chief Epidemiologist Juan Rodriguez. “We ask community members to take preventive actions to lower their risk of contracting a mosquito-borne illness.”
Health departments in all three regions advised residents to protect themselves by minimizing time outdoors between dusk and dawn, using mosquito repellent, draining standing water to reduce breeding sites, and wearing long-sleeved shirts or long pants when mosquitoes are active.
“The confirmation of West Nile virus in mosquito samples indicates the presence of West Nile virus in the area,” Suffolk County Health Commissioner Gregson Pigott stated. “While there is no cause for alarm, we advise residents to cooperate with us in our efforts to reduce exposure to West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases.”
West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the U.S., according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). People infected by a mosquito carrying the virus can contract the disease.
Approximately 80% of infected individuals won’t show symptoms, but about 20% may develop fever and flu-like symptoms. Less than 1% will experience severe West Nile Virus Neuroinvasive Disease. This year, 24 cases of this severe form have been reported in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
So far this year, there have been 45 reported human cases of West Nile virus across 19 states, a decrease from the 422 cases reported between January and July 2023. Cases typically increase in July, peak in August, and remain high through September. Texas, Nevada, and Nebraska have reported the most cases so far, with 9, 8, and 7 cases respectively.
In June, the Southern Nevada Health District reported that 91 mosquito pools, totaling over 3,000 mosquitoes, tested positive for West Nile virus.
