Second, third West Nile virus infections reported in Suffolk County
In this image provided by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, a mosquito stands upon human skin. Credit: AP/USDA Agricultural Research Service via AP
Two additional Suffolk County residents have become ill with West Nile virus and one is still recovering in a rehabilitation facility, county health officials said Thursday.
This marks three reported human cases of the mosquito-borne virus so far this year in Suffolk. Nassau County has not reported any cases to date. Surveillance has found mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus throughout Long Island.
The virus is the most prevalent disease spread by mosquitoes in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms can range from body aches, fever and vomiting to severe illness such as encephalitis and meningitis.
The first case was a person under the age of 50 from the Town of Huntington.
The two recent cases, who were not identified, were people over the age of 50. One from the Town of Babylon developed symptoms in mid-August and is recovering at home. The second person is from the Town of Huntington and fell ill in late August. That person was hospitalized before being transferred to a rehabilitation facility.
“West Nile virus can be debilitating, which is why we never let our guard down,” Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott said in a statement.
There are about 2,000 cases of West Nile in the United States every year, according to the CDC. The agency said that number is an underestimate since many infected people don’t have symptoms and those who do may mistake it for another illness. Last year, there were 21 human cases in Suffolk.
People over the age of 50 and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk of developing serious illness from the bite of an infected mosquito.
Experts say the best way to avoid West Nile virus is to be careful during mosquito season, which runs from about June through October, by wearing repellent with DEET as well as long sleeves and long pants during dusk and evening hours when mosquitoes are most active.
Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.
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