NEW YORK.- Health authorities reported three human cases of West Nile virus in New York City.
Two people from Queens and one from Manhattan were diagnosed with this mosquito-borne disease.
West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes are usually present in the city from May to October, with peak activity in August and September.
The three infected patients had to be hospitalized, and two of them have already been discharged. In addition, there is a fourth possible case under investigation in Staten Island.
“We are working to prevent West Nile virus as much as possible through public education, wetland treatment and mosquito spraying,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan.
“As New Yorkers, we can take simple precautions to reduce our risk. For example, using an EPA-registered insect repellent, especially when outside at dusk and dawn when the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus are most active. In addition , you can prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in your water by emptying outdoor containers that hold water or by calling 311 if you see standing water that you can’t empty,” he said.
Queens will be fumigated against transmitting mosquitoes
The city plans to spray for mosquitoes Thursday night in parts of Queens, beginning at 8:30 p.m., weather permitting.
West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes are typically present in the city from May through October, with peak activity in August and September.
The virus was first detected in the city more than two decades ago, with an average of just over a dozen people diagnosed each year.
In total, 569 mosquito “pools” were found in the five boroughs that tested positive for West Nile virus, the city said.
This compares to more than 1,000 positive pools in the same period in 2022.
This report follows the case of a Connecticut woman who was diagnosed with West Nile virus in the third week of July, the first known case in that state in 2023.
West Nile Virus Symptoms
The city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported that most people infected with West Nile virus do not experience any symptoms. Some may develop symptoms such as:
Headaches Muscle aches Rashes Extreme fatigue
Most of those infected make a full recovery, although some may experience problems months later.
A small number of people (about 1 in 150), especially those over the age of 60 or with weakened immune systems, may develop a serious or life-threatening disease of the brain and spinal cord called West Nile neurological disease, which can lead to mental status changes and muscle weakness requiring hospitalization.
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Conservation District, Dauphin County, PA
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The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has announced that it has found West Nile virus activity in the mosquito population in 16 of the 67 counties in the state, including all counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. Health Department employees are working in various ways to control mosquitoes throughout the city, but they need the public’s help.
Credit: Conservation District, Dauphin County, PA
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Anything that can hold water can breed mosquitoes, from soda bottle caps to scrap tires. Check your property for these sources of standing water and dispose of them. Remember: At least once or twice a week, empty flower pots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, pool covers, buckets, barrels, cans, and any other items outside your home.
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Don’t Forget: Empty and put away wading pools for kids on your side. Also, check for clogged rain gutters and clean them out. Remove unused tires and other items that can collect water.
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Very Important: Aerate ornamental ponds or stock them with fish. Be sure to look for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, such as under bushes or under your house.
Credit: EFE
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Keep tight-fitting screens on both windows and doors. Call the Health Department’s mosquito complaint hotline at 215-685-9000 to report mosquito problems in your neighborhood.
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Since some mosquitoes will find a way to survive, there are things residents can do to avoid being bitten. Read on and we’ll tell you…
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Use insect repellent on exposed skin when you are outdoors. Insect repellent must contain one of the following ingredients: DEET, picardin, eucalyptus oil, or PMD.
Credit: EFE/GASTON DE CARDENAS
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When weather permits, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants whenever you are outdoors. Consider staying inside at dawn, dusk, and early evening, when mosquitoes are most active.
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Keep an eye on it: Warm, humid conditions are ideal for the spread of mosquitoes that carry diseases like West Nile and Zika viruses. That is why authorities recommend avoiding accumulations of water outside homes and keeping rainwater channels clean.
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2023-08-28 22:53:34
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