Suffolk County Confirms 5th West Nile Case

BROOKHAVEN, NY — A fifth case of West Nile virus has been confirmed in Suffolk County, Commissioner of Health Services Dr. Gregson Pigott said Tuesday.

A Brookhaven resident, who is over the age of 50 and has underlying health conditions, became ill from the virus in early September, but was not hospitalized, and has since “almost fully recovered,” Pigott said.

Four cases of West Nile virus had previously been confirmed this season, including another one in Brookhaven, two from the Town of Huntington, and another one from the Town of Babylon, officials said. The two Huntington residents were over the age of 50 and the other residents were under the age of 50, according to officials.

The number of human cases of West Nile virus varies each year, and last year, the county reported five cases. There were three in 2019, and 11 in 2018. The county reported 25 human cases in 2010, a year in which the virus claimed three people’s lives. The virus claimed another two people in 2017.

“Mosquito season ends on Nov. 1, but the fall is a perfect time to repair screens, clean yards, and make solid plans to reduce the number of areas where mosquitoes can breed around your home,” Pigott said.

The virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. It is estimated that 20 % of those who become infected will develop “clinically noticeable symptoms of West Nile virus disease,” officials said.

Mild symptoms may include fever, headache, and body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph glands, as well as high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis.

Anyone with symptoms is advised to visit their healthcare provider for evaluation. There is no specific treatment for the virus, but patients can be offered “supportive therapy as needed,” officials said.

People who are most at risk for severe infection include those over 50 years old, as well as those with chronic illnesses or compromised immune systems. Residents are urged to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes during the season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 1.

For more information about mosquito-borne illnesses, visit the Suffolk County Department of Health Services’ website.