At least eight state health departments have cautioned residents over West Nile virus risk in the last week amid a seasonal peak and cases reported in humans and animals, on the rare occasion resulting in death, Fox News reported.
State health officials from Connecticut, Idaho, Massachusetts, Utah, North Dakota, Louisiana, Delaware and New Hampshire released preventive guidance on West Nile virus.
Here's a look at West Nile virus reports from a variety of media sources.
NEW YORK CITY. According to the New York Post, West Nile virus cases have nearly tripled in New York City in 2021. Twenty have been reported so far this year — up from just seven last year.
There have been no deaths from the mosquito-borne virus, while there was one last year, according to the city Department of Health. The agency cited the summer’s warm, wet weather as possibly contributing to the uptick.
Source: New York Post
ARIZONA. After a heavy monsoon, Arizona is experiencing the most cases of West Nile virus since the first data was collected by the Arizona Department of Health Services in 2004.
As of Friday, the state reported 699 confirmed and probable cases in Arizona. So far, 591 of those cases are from Maricopa County, according to statistics from ADHS.
Source: AZCentral
MASSACHUSETTS. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced Friday the ninth human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the state this year.
A man in his 60s was exposed to the virus in Middlesex County, according to the Massachusetts DPH. So far this year, there has been nine human cases and one animal case of the virus.
Source: WWLP
CONNECTICUT. Mosquitos in Lyme and Waterford tested positive for West Nile virus, health officials announced on Tuesday.
The Ledge Light Health District said the species collected in Waterford were a combination of mammal and bird-biting mosquitoes. The ones tested in Lyme were bird-biting only.
Positive West Nile virus mosquitoes are normally expected during the summer months, and their presence serves as a reminder for residents to take standard precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, the LLHD said.
Source: WFSB