West Nile Virus Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

West Nile Virus Detected In W.Va.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says cases of the virus are spiking upwards in the United States.

West Virginia has reported its first case of the West Nile virus this year in Hardy County following the screening of a blood donor.

The individual, who donated blood, did not show any symptoms at the time of the procedure but their blood later tested positive during a screening for West Nile virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says cases of the virus are spiking upwards in the United States. West Nile can affect both humans and animals with horses particularly susceptible to the virus which expresses itself in through neurological tremors and coordination problems.

A vaccine is available for horses but not for humans.

The virus spreads through mosquitoes that can become infected after feeding on an infected bird. So far this year, 190 cases have been identified across 27 states.

According to the CDC most people (8 out of 10) who become infected with West Nile virus do not exhibit symptoms. One in five people who become infected with West Nile virus develop mild flu-like symptoms including headaches, high fever, muscle weakness, vomiting or a rash.

In rare, but more severe cases, one in 150 people can develop encephalitis, or meningitis which affects the brain and spinal cord.

For more information on West Nile virus visit the CDC’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/.

West Nile Virus Detected in Cabell County

West Virginia health officials say West Nile virus has been detected in a mosquito in Cabell County.

The Cabell-Huntington Health Department has been trapping mosquitoes and submitting them for tests to monitor the virus. The department’s physician director, Michael Kilkenny, says West Nile can cause fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting diarrhea or body rash.

Residents are being urged to use insect repellent and wear protective clothing to avoid mosquito bites that could cause illness.

Other recommendations include staying inside at peak mosquito hours, dawn and dusk, and trying to drain standing water from around homes.

West Nile Virus Found in Huntington

Positive West Nile mosquito pools have been found in Huntington.

The Cabell-Huntington Health Department is urging residents in Cabell County and the city of Huntington to take precautions when going outdoors for an extended period. According to the health department, mosquito surveillance has shown positive cases of West Nile virus in the area.

West Nile virus can produce symptoms like fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or a body rash. The health department says that many people exposed to the virus don’t experience symptoms at all, but in other cases the symptoms can cause hospitalization.

The health department has monitored the virus in mosquito populations by trapping the mosquitoes and submitting them to the WV office of Laboratory Services for viral testing.

Two Viruses Found in Cabell County Mosquito Pools

Health officials say pools of mosquitoes in Cabell County have tested positive for two viruses.

Stan Mills of the Cabell-Huntington Health Department says no illnesses have been reported from the positive tests for the West Nile and La Crosse viruses.

La Crosse can cause inflammation of the brain. West Nile’s symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or a body rash.

Health officials suggest removing outdoor containers that collect water near homes where mosquitoes can lay eggs, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and securing doors and screens so that insects can’t get indoors.