Benton County man diagnosed with West Nile Virus

KENNEWICK, Wash.-- The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed the season's first cases of West Nile Virus in Washington.

The Yakima County Health District reported that a man in 50s was hospitalized due to the infection, while the Benton-Franklin Health District reported that a man in his 60s was diagnosed with the virus, but was not hospitalized.

According to the DOH, West Nile Virus can be a serious, even fatal, illness that affects humans, horses, birds, and other animals.

The virus is almost always spread by mosquito that become infected after feeding on birds that carry the virus.

While the majority of people infected with WNV do not get sick, an average of one in five will develop a fever or other symptoms that go away without medical treatment. About one in 150 people who are infected will experience more severe symptoms that may include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis, and coma. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right away.

Health officials advise people to take action to avoid mosquito bites:

• Use an effective, EPA-registered insect repellent.
• Cover up: Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors.
• Avoid mosquito prime time. Many mosquitoes bite in the evening between dusk and dawn. Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing during evening and morning hours.
• Mosquito-proof your home by installing or repairing screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Reduce mosquito-breeding areas around your home by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires, and birdbaths on a regular basis.

“Spending time outdoors can help with social distancing to prevent COVID-19, but it can also put you at risk for mosquito-borne disease,” said epidemiologist Hanna Oltean. “People throughout Washington should take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.”

WNV has been detected this summer in mosquitoes in Yakima, Benton, and Franklin counties; historically, counties across Washington have been affected, although risk is generally highest in Eastern Washington. WNV season starts as early as July and can last until early October.