OGDEN, Utah, Sept. 6, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — The Weber-Morgan Health Department has seen its first human case of West Nile virus this year and is urging everyone to “be vigilant about preventing mosquito bites.”
In a news release Friday afternoon, the health department said the individual who contracted the mosquito-borne virus was hospitalized with the neuro-invasive form of the disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms, however, about one in five people who become infected will have a fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash.
About one in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system, the CDC says. Symptoms of severe illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.
The CDC advises contacting your health care provider if you have any of the above symptoms.
To prevent mosquito bites, it’s recommended to use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, use air-conditioning if available, and keep screens on doors and windows in good repair to keep mosquitoes out. If you have any items that collect water outdoors, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers, empty and clean them thoroughly at least once a week, cover them or throw them out.
For more information from the CDC on protecting yourself and your family from mosquito bites, click here.
