Suffolk health officials confirm season's first human case of West Nile virus
The resident was hospitalized and is now recovering at home.
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The Suffolk County Department of Health Services confirmed the season's first human case of West Nile virus.
The department says the Town of Huntington resident, who is under the age of 50, "began experiencing symptoms consistent" with the virus in mid-August.
The resident was hospitalized and is now recovering at home.
West Nile virus is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito.
The department says some infected with the virus could experience mild symptoms that may include fever, headache and body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands. Severe symptoms include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.
West Nile virus can also be fatal.
The department advises those experiencing symptoms to visit their health care provider.
To avoid mosquito bites, the department recommends using insect repellent, avoid going outside from dusk to dawn when most mosquitoes are active, wearing long sleeves and long pants when nighttime activity is unavoidable and eliminating standing water from flowerpots, clogged gutters, recycle bins, birdbaths, toys, swimming pool and hot tub covers.
For information about West Nile virus, visit the Suffolk County Department of Health Services website.
The Nassau County Health Department says it has not had any cases of West Nile in humans this year. However, 33 mosquito samples tested positive for the virus.
