Pennsylvania health officials are on alert after testing identified West Nile virus in mosquitoes living there.
The mosquitoes were collected came from Wilkinsburg, Schenley Park, Mt. Washington, Beltzhoover, Mt. Oliver, and Hazelwood, areas around Pittsburgh.
While no infections have been detected in Pennsylvania in people, the virus has cropped up in 14 states already.
Health officials across the US, including Kentucky, California, Indiana, and Minnesota have detected West Nile in mosquito samples this month and have ramped up public warnings and bug sprays in public spaces.
An Allegheny County resident was diagnosed with the virus last July and had to be hospitalized, though details on the case remain under wraps.
Most people who catch West Nile virus won’t even realize it, but about one in five people infected develop flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash.
Around one percent of infected people develop serious, potentially life-threatening illnesses, like swelling of the brain or spinal cord, which can lead to confusion, seizures, paralysis, or death.
West Nile is fatal in about one out of 10 people with nervous system infections, or about one in 1,500 people with West Nile.
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease. It is not spread from person to person but rather through bites from infected mosquitoes. The insects pick up the virus from birds, the natural reservoir for the virus
Older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and those with certain chronic conditions face the highest risk of severe illness due to West Nile.
Even survivors of severe West Nile illness may experience long-lasting complications, including memory problems, chronic fatigue, muscle tremors, or permanent neurological damage.
It is the leading mosquito-borne disease in the US and is spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes. Most cases occur during mosquito season, which typically begins in the spring and lasts through the fall.
Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Vector Control Specialist Nicholas Baldauf said: ‘Generally, the species of mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus are active from dusk to dawn.
‘Residents can prevent mosquito bites by using insect repellent on exposed skin or choosing to wear long sleeves and pants. Both methods are effective at reducing or eliminating the possibility of getting a mosquito bite.’
Anne Dillard, an Atlanta woman, was left ‘practically paralyzed’ from the waist down after contracting West Nile virus from a mosquito bite.
She collapsed at home and was rushed to Emory University Hospital, where doctors confirmed the infection.
Despite retaining sensation, she lost muscle strength, leaving her unable to sit, stand, or walk. She also suffered from lethargy, loss of appetite, and a spreading rash.
Anne Dillard, from Atlanta, Georgia, revealed that she had been ‘practically paralyzed’ by her West Nile Virus infection
Her case emerged just minutes after Dr Anthony Fauci revealed his own West Nile diagnosis, highlighting how even healthy individuals can face severe symptoms.
Meanwhile John Proctor VI, an 18-year-old from Missouri became paralyzed from the neck down and relies on a ventilator to breathe after contracting West Nile virus from a mosquito bite.
The previously healthy teen, who recently graduated high school and was training to become a diesel mechanic, first developed headaches and dizziness in early August before his condition rapidly worsened.
Within days, he suffered slurred speech, muscle weakness, and paralysis, prompting his parents to rush him to the hospital fearing a stroke.
Doctors confirmed a rare neuro-invasive form of West Nile virus, which attacks the nervous system. His father described the ordeal as ‘out of nowhere’ and said his son is now battling stroke-like symptoms and pneumonia.
There is no cure, only rest and pain management, and recovery can take months, often with lasting effects.
West Nile, first detected in 1999, now appears nationwide, causing about 2,200 severe cases and 180 deaths annually.
Every spring, the ACHD treats known mosquito breeding sites with larvicide and sets traps to monitor for West Nile and other viruses.
John Proctor VI is on ventilator to help him breathe after being diagnosed with West Nile virus. His parents, John Proctor V and his mom stand by his bedside
The 18-year-old had just graduated high school in the Spring
These surveillance efforts help track disease risk and inform decisions about when additional measures, such as nighttime mosquito spraying, are necessary.
Baldauf said: ‘Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a half inch of stagnant water, so residents should pay close attention to potential breeding sites like stagnant water in tires, unused swimming pools, buckets, corrugated piping, and clogged gutters.
West Nile is primarily spread by Culex mosquitoes, which transmit the virus through their saliva. They mainly live near stagnant water sources.
Mosquito-borne disease experts are increasingly alarmed that as global temperatures climb toward dangerous new thresholds, warmer, wetter, and more humid conditions will take hold in regions that were once too cool for large mosquito populations.
These shifting climates create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, extending their active season and speeding up their life cycles.
As species like Culex mosquitoes expand into new areas, their longer lifespans and faster viral incubation times give them more opportunities to spread dangerous illnesses, not just West Nile virus, but also malaria, dengue fever, and Zika.
The health department urges people to protect themselves by clearing standing water from their yards, using screens on windows and doors, and applying insect repellent to exposed skin, particularly during dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
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