June 19, 2023 – State and native health officials across the country report the primary human cases of West Nile virus this season and urge people to take steps to guard themselves from the mosquito-borne disease.
In the last two weeks, recent cases have been reported in Iowa And Nebraskaalong with previous reports from 2023 from Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wyoming. A mosquito at a surveillance site near Houston tested positive for the possibly deadly virus last week, prompting local health officials to start evening spraying campaigns in the world where the mosquito was found, in line with a notice from the Harris County Health Department.
According to the CDCwhich compiles local reports, there have been 13 human cases of West Nile virus in 2023. In 2022, there have been 1,126 cases, including 90 deaths.
Among the 13 cases reported to the CDC thus far this yr, eight people have severe neuroinvasive disease, meaning the disease has spread to the nervous system. Such severe symptoms typically occur in a single in 150 West Nile virus cases and may include encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, or meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Three of the neuroinvasive cases occurred earlier this yr during an outbreak in Maricopa County, Arizona, where the disease is taken into account endemic, in line with an April 28 report. report from the CDC.
According to the CDC, West Nile virus is probably the most common mosquito-borne disease within the Americas. Local health officials collect mosquito samples to develop mosquito control strategies. So far this yr, the CDC has received 28 reports of mosquitoes testing positive. These mosquito testing reports got here from Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana and Texas.
West Nile virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, but will also be transmitted to humans through contact with an infected dead bird. According to the CDC, there aren't any drugs to treat the virus in people. Most infected people don't feel sick, and one in five infected people develops fever and other symptoms resembling headache, body aches, or rash.
Preventive measures include applying insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants to avoid mosquito bites.