Miami-Dade reports 2020’s first West Nile infection. Officials say drain and cover.
Health officials Saturday reported Miami-Dade County’s first 2020 case of West Nile virus.
The county has been placed under a mosquito-borne-illness alert after a Miami-Dade resident was infected, the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County said.
The health department said West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. There are no vaccines to prevent it or medications to treat it.
Those infected by the virus usually don’t feel sick. Roughly one in five of those infected develop a fever or other symptoms, such as headaches, pain and fatigue. Symptoms typically appear between two and 14 days after the infected mosquito bites.
Less than one percent of people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness. People with mild symptoms usually recover within a week with treatment. People over 60 and those with weakened immune systems are at an increased risk for severe disease, health officials said.
Health officials are reminding residents to “Drain and Cover.”
Drain standing water in garbage cans, gutters, buckets, pools, coolers, birdbaths and pet water bowls. Also throw away old tires, drums, bottles, cans and other broken appliances.
Cover skin with clothing and apply repellent. Officials advise using repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-methane-diol and IR3535.
This story was originally published May 9, 2020 at 3:38 PM.
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