West Nile Virus Detected In NYC Mosquitoes, Officials Say
NEW YORK CITY — The new health buzz is it's time to stock up on insect repellent in addition to face coverings.
The West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes made their first appearance this season in the Bronx and Staten Island, city health department officials said Tuesday.
No human cases have been reported yet, but the seasonal reappearance of West Nile is unwelcome timing for a city already in the grips of the new coronavirus pandemic.
Prepare to take extra steps on top of social distancing and mask wearing to avoid contact with disease-carrying bloodsuckers.
"New Yorkers can take a few simple steps to protect themselves this summer, including by wearing insect repellent or covering their arms and legs," said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot in a statement. "We also encourage everyone to remove any standing water that may harbor mosquitoes or call 311 for standing water they cannot manage themselves."
The West Nile virus first showed up in New York City two decades ago and has infected anywhere from three to 47 people each year since, officials said. Forty-six out of 353 New Yorkers — that's 13 percent — who contracted the virus died.
About 80 percent of people who contract the virus don't show symptoms, officials said. But in some people, particularly those 50 and older or with weakened immune systems, it can cause serious and potentially-fatal brain and spinal cord infections, according to officials. Its symptoms are most commonly headache, fever, muscle aches and extreme fatigue.
Several Culex species of mosquito carry the virus during the April to September mosquito season, officials said. Health department officials proactively take steps to kill mosquito larvae each year, including this one, by spraying marshy spots in areas with standing water and marshy areas across the outer boroughs.
New Yorkers are encouraged to wear insect repellent with DEET, keep screens on windows and eliminate empty standing water to reduce the risk of mosquitoes.
More information on West Nile virus can be found here.
This article originally appeared on the New York City Patch
