The Volusia County Health Department has issued a mosquito borne illness advisory after a resident contracted West Nile virus (WNV).

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

All that is known about the case is the it is a 34-year-old woman. A Daytona Beach News Journal report says the woman is currently hospitalized.

According to the latest Florida Arbovirus Surveillance data for the week of August  24-30, 2014, there were no human WNV cases reported to that point.

The Florida Department of Health says in 2014, as of Aug. 30,  positive WNV samples have been detected from 44 sentinel chickens, 2 horses, and 1 blood donor in 16 counties.

In addition, as of Sept. 2, no human WNV cases were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Florida reported 7 human WNV cases last year and 73 cases, including 3 fatalities in 2012.

Most individuals infected with WNV will not have any symptoms. People that do develop illness will usually have any combination of fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands. These symptoms generally appear two to 14 days following the bite of an infected mosquito.

Less than one percent of persons exposed to the virus will develop more severe infections, with symptoms such as headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. In rare instances, WNV can be fatal. Persons over 50 years of age have the highest risk of developing more severe disease. People who are immunocompromised may also be at high risk of WNV infection.

Volusia County health officials advise the public to drain standing water to eliminate mosquito breeding areas, to cover skin with clothing and repellent to prevent mosquito bites  and to cover doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out of the house. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page