Officials say that the first West Nile virus case of 2017 has been identified at a popular New York beach and campground.
A mosquito sample collected in a trap set at Watch Hill, within Fire Island National Seashore tested positive for the virus. A barrier island 30-miles off the coast of Long Island, this U.S. National Park Service (NPS) site is a popular year-round destination
West Nile Virus was first detected in New York State during its emergence into the United States back in 1999. It is still the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the U.S., as per CDC.
Humans are primarily infected through the bite of a mosquito who has previously bitten an infected animal. Symptoms may be mild to severe and commonly include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting or diarrhea.
However, 70%-80% of people infected with West Nile Virus do not develop any symptoms. There have been no vaccines or specific preventive medicines available for this virus.
According to CDC data, over 1800 people in the U.S. were hospitalized with West Nile Virus infection last year leading to 182 deaths from it.
In the U.S., one of its most prominent figures in the coronavirus pandemic response, Dr. Anthony Fauci was hospitalized earlier this month with Covid-19. A spokesperson for the 83-year-old Fauci told Fox News that due to it not being a serious case, he was treated just like any other patient who tested positive and is expected to quickly recover.
The NPS and Suffolk County will continue weekly mosquito surveillance at the Seashore to determine if, when and where this virus might be detected in new areas of the park. Surveillance will be stepped up at Watch Hill to determine whether or not any intervention is necessary – potentially including larviciding, spraying, and if necessary closure of the area.