At the end of last week, the health department of New York City confirmed its first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) this season in a 41 year old Brooklyn woman who is now recovering.
Health officials in the City urged everyone, especially the over 50s, to do everything they can to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
The woman started to feel symptoms around mid August, including headache, fever, fatigue, muscle pain and weakness. She was admitted to hospital on 25th August and has now been discharged. The latest report from the Health Department says she is at home recovering.
As the woman had travelled outside of the City in the two weeks before becoming ill, it is not clear if she became infected in the City or somewhere else.
The City’s Health Commissioner, Dr Thomas Frieden said:
“I urge all New Yorkers – especially those over 50 – to take steps to prevent mosquito bites.”
“Wear mosquito repellent and long pants and sleeves if you’re outside in the evening, and be sure your window screens are intact. These simple steps can help stop the spread of West Nile virus,” he explained.
WNV surveillance has so far this year positively identified 139 mosquito pools across New York City, with all five boroughs showing WNV presence and significant activity in eastern Queens, southeastern Bronx and Staten Island.
Spraying of larvicide is an ongoing activity and follows a schedule that can be viewed on the Health Department website, as well as in response to standing water reports.
The City’s Health Department offers the following advice to help New Yorkers reduce exposure to mosquitoes during the WNV season:
- Use an approved insect repellent where mosquitoes are active.
- Repellents approved by state and federal agencies contain DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus on children under 3.
- Always read the label and safety instructions before applying any products.
- Screen all windows, make sure screens are intact, mend holes and tears.
- Eliminate standing water from your property: empty all containers, turn them over so they don’t collect water.
- Standing water is a violation of the City’s Health Code.
- Clear roof gutters and check they are draining properly.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, hot tubs and saunas situated outdoors.
- If not using pools, tubs, and so on, drain and keep them empty.
- Don’t forget to drain water that collects on pool covers.
- Report sightings of dead birds or standing water (call 311 or go via the NYC WNV website).
WNV is a virus carried by mosquito and can infect humans, birds, horses and other animals.
It first appeared in North America in York City in 1999 and has since spread across the continental United States and Canada.
In the period 1999 to 2006, there were 162 confirmed human cases of WNV in New York City, of which 20 were fatal.
In humans WNV infection is largely unsymptomatic, but sometimes causes a mild or moderate reaction like getting the flu for a few days.
More rarely, particularly in the over 50s, it can lead to serious neurological diseases including encephalitis, meningitis, or acute flaccid paralysis.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges all Americans to support their community based mosquito control program, and give details of how to do this on the CDC WNV website.
Click here to visit NYC WNV website.
Written by: Catharine Paddock