What to Know After At Least 3 New Yorkers Test Positive for West Nile Virus
- Health officials said there have been three human cases of West Nile virus in New York City.
- The city reported Wednesday night that a third person in Manhattan and two from Queens had mosquito-borne sickness.
- According to officials, mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus are normally prevalent in the city from May through October, with August and September seeing the highest numbers.
Three human West Nile virus cases have been recorded in New York City, according to health officials. The city reported Wednesday night that a third person in Manhattan and two from Queens had mosquito-borne sickness. The three affected individuals had to be hospitalized, and two of them had already been released. On Staten Island, there is also a fourth potential case that is being looked into.
Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan stated, “We are working to prevent West Nile virus as much as possible through public education, treating marshy areas, and spraying for mosquitoes.” “As New Yorkers, we can reduce our risk by taking a few easy steps. Use an EPA-registered insect repellent, for instance, especially if you plan to be outside between dusk and dawn when the mosquitoes that spread West Nile Virus are most active. Additionally, if there is any standing water that you cannot remove, call 311 or empty any outdoor water containers to prevent mosquitoes from depositing their eggs in the water.
Weather permitting, the city intends to have trucks spraying against mosquitoes in several areas of Queens on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m.
According to officials, mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus are normally prevalent in the city from May through October, with August and September seeing the highest numbers. Over 20 years ago, the virus was found for the first time in the city, and on average, about 12 people are diagnosed with it annually.
The city said a total of 569 mosquito pools in the five boroughs tested positive for the West Nile virus. In contrast, there were almost a thousand of them pools open simultaneously in 2022.
Symptoms of West Nile virus–
The majority of West Nile virus-infected individuals, according to the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, show no symptoms at all. Some people may exhibit signs like:
- Headaches
- Muscle aches
- Rashes
- Extreme fatigue
Most people who contract the infection recover totally, however, some may continue to have issues for months. According to health officials, a small percentage of people (about 1 in 150), especially those over 60 or with compromised immune systems) can develop West Nile neuroinvasive disease, a serious or even potentially fatal illness of the brain and spinal cord that can cause changes in mental status and muscle weakness that necessitate hospitalization.