Human Cases Of West Nile Virus In Delco Under Investigation

Multiple people in Delaware County have been infected with presumed West Nile Virus, officials told Patch.

West Nile Virus has been detected in mosquito populations throughout the region, including over 100 groups of entrapped mosquitos in Delco.

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Only a handful of human cases have been reported in the Philadelphia area this year, according to CDC data. Recent updates to the federal agency's figures show two cases in Delco.

The cases have not been confirmed, but the Delaware County Health Department is still investigating, according to a County spokesperson.

"The County is aware of the probable human cases of West Nile Virus in Delaware County," the spokesperson told Patch. "The County's Health Department is actively investigating these cases. This process involves multiple steps prior to confirmation for each case and evaluations are in progress."

No other information, including their conditions, was immediately available. Patch will update this article if that changes.

West Nile Virus is a neurologic infection that's most commonly spread to humans through a bite from an infected mosquito.

Most people with the virus don't develop symptoms, but 1 in 5 will get a fever or flu-like symptoms, according to health officials. One in 150 people with the virus develop inflammation to the brain or spine, which can be deadly.

Of the 504 cases of West Nile Virus reported nationally this year, nearly 3 in 4 have been neuroinvasive, the CDC says.

To help prevent the virus from spreading, officials recommend wearing mosquito repellent and pouring out any standing water on your property, since mosquitos use it to breed.