Hillsborough Issues West Nile Virus Alert

“We strongly encourage residents to protect themselves and family members from mosquitoes”.

Eight human cases of West Nile virus have been identified in Connecticut, according to an announcement by the State Mosquito Management Program on Wednesday. The West Nile virus is generally blamed on mosquitoes, which typically pick up the virus from dead birds and spread it to animals and humans.

“This is a sad reminder of how severe West Nile virus can be”, said Dr. Mitchell Kushner, the city’s health officer.

The state saw its first two fatalities recently, when a Suffolk County man in his 60s contracted the disease and a woman in her 90’s also succumbed to the disease. Long Beach has reported four cases this year.

Since we are entering what is considered the end of West Nile Virus mosquito season, officials want Oklahomans to take extra precaution against the mosquito-borne illness by avoiding mosquito bites and reducing habitats where mosquitoes live.

According to health officials, the patient is an elderly female from Middlesex County who likely contracted the virus in that area. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, occasionally with a skin rash (on the trunk of the body) and swollen lymph glands. Most people infected, however, have no symptoms; approximately one in 150 may develop more serious conditions, such as brain inflammation or paralysis.

Like the Press-Telegram on Facebook.