A mosquito-borne illness alert was issued in Volusia County, FL by Florida Department of Health in Volusia County Director Dr. Bonnie J. Sorensen after a second human case of West Nile virus (WNV) has been confirmed.
Image/CDC
The first human WNV case was reported on Sept. 4 in a 34-year-old woman.
As of Sept. 27, the Florida Department of Health had reported a total of seven human cases of WNV illness acquired in Florida. The breakdown is as follows: two in Escambia (July, August), one in Duval (August), one in 2 Leon (August), one in Pasco (August), one in Polk (September) and one in Volusia (August) Counties.
Florida reported 7 human WNV cases last year and 73 cases, including 3 fatalities in 2012.
West Nile virus is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) most commonly spread by infected mosquitoes. West Nile virus can cause febrile illness, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).
It was first detected in North America in 1999, and has since spread across the continental United States and Canada.
Most people get infected with West Nile virus by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to humans and other animals.
In a very small number of cases, West Nile virus has been spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, and from mother to baby during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding, according to the CDC. For moreinfectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
Nationally, as of September 30, a total of 46 states and the District of Columbia have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. Overall, 1,177 cases of West Nile virus disease in people have been reported to CDC.
