NYC Health Department Reports First Confirmed West Nile Case

New York City NY

22 July, 2021

4:24 PM

Description

NEW YORK CITY — New Yorkers are being warned by city health officials to beware of mosquitoes that have been detected to be carrying the West Nile virus after the infected insects have turned up in all five boroughs. Officials said Thursday and that one case of West Nile virus is being investigated by the New York City Health Department, but did not indicate where the positive diagnosis was reported. Mosquito season in New York typically runs between April and September. City health officials use more than 50 surveillance sites across New York and the health department installs additional mosquito traps around affected areas. The traps are used to enhance mosquito surveillance, officials said Thursday and health officials use an integrated management system to prevent and control mosquitoes that carry West Nile. But health experts and officials insist that city residents must take measures to protect themselves. "Let's not forget safety while enjoying summer fun," New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi said in a news release. "Take simple steps to protect you and your loved ones from mosquito bites this summer: use insect repellent and covering arms and legs." The health commissioner also said that standing water can harbor mosquitoes and that if city residents encounter pools of standing water, they should call 311. The Health Department has already started to catch basin larviciding and conducted two helicopter-based larviciding events in the marsh areas of Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, officials said. Pesticides can be sprayed to target adult mosquitoes where persistent West Nile virus activity is detected. The first case of West Nile was detected in New York City 21 years ago and since then, positive cases range from three to 47 cases each year. In that time, 47 people have died from a total of 359 West Nile cases that have been reported since 1999. There are more than 40 species of mosquitoes that inhabit the city but only a small number of them are capable of carrying West Nile. Eighty percent of those residents who contract West Nile will not experience symptoms, health officials said. In some cases, especially among people over the age of 50 who have weakened immune systems, West Nile can become serious and even fatal. The most common symptoms include headaches, fever, aching muscles and extreme fatigue.