West Nile Virus Surfaces In Pittsburgh For First Time In Years

PITTSBURGH, PA — The first human case of West Nile Virus in the Pittsburgh area since 2018 has been confirmed, the Allegheny County Health Department announced Thursday.

An Aspinwall man in his 60s contracted the illness. Further information on his condition was unavailable.

The state Department of Health has reported two other cases of West Nile Virus this year to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Both occurred in eastern Pennsylvania.

The virus is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito.According to the CDC, there are no vaccines to prevent the virus and no medications to treat it. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms, and about 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious and potentially fatal illness.

The health department has set additional mosquito traps in the Aspinwall area as part of its West Nile surveillance efforts. Additionally, the program has treated targeted areas where West Nile has been detected with a mosquito pesticide called Zenivex E20 that is not harmful to humans or pets.

The last time human cases of West Nile Virus were detected in Allegheny County was three years ago, when there were five cases. In 2017, there were two cases.

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