First Human Case of West Nile Virus in Westchester

An 80-year-old Yonkers resident has been diagnosed with the first human case of West Nile Virus in Westchester County this year.

The victim, whose name the county did not release, was hospitalized but has been discharged and is recovering.

The county will be doing an environmental assessment around the man’s home for signs of mosquito breeding activity.

West Nile can cause illness similar to the flu and is especially dangerous to people over 50. 

The county advises residents to eliminate any opportunity for mosquitoes to breed near their home, including getting rid of any water-holding containers, covering outdoor trash cans so rain does not accumulate in them, removing standing water from roofs and cleaning roof gutters, among other things. 

The first mosquitoes in Westchester

For more information and helpful tips, call the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000 or visit www.westchestergov.com/health.