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The East Central District Health Department (ECHD) confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus (WV) in Nance County this year.
An adult tested positive for the virus after becoming ill at the end of September.
Local health authorities are urging community members to practice strict mosquito avoidance as West Nile virus (WNV) season continues. The disease, contracted through the bite of a virus-carrying mosquito, remains silent in most individuals, though one in five patients will experience an onset of fever, severe headaches, physical aches, gastrointestinal distress, or rashes.
These indicators generally surface within a 2- to 6-day window following exposure. Because no specialized antiviral medications or licensed human vaccines exist, avoiding bites is the single most effective defense against the virus, which can occasionally escalate into an illness severe enough to require hospital intervention.
The best way to prevent WNV is by taking the proper precautions listed below:
• Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered repellent that has DEET or picaridin.
• Wear protective clothing such as loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants.
• Avoid being outside during dusk and dawn, when mosquitos are most active.
• Check for standing water on your property periodically and empty, drain, or treat with a mosquito dunk to prevent mosquitos from breeding.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/westnile or call ECDHD at 402-563-9656.