RALEIGH, N.C. — The first human case of the West Nile virus has been confirmed in North Carolina.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said the case was identified in Gaston County.
The department said a blood donor in Mecklenburg County also tested positive for the virus.
The NCDHHS said the virus is spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito and does not spread from person to person.
The department’s entomologist, Michael Doyle, stated that there are symptoms to watch for if a mosquito bites you.
“A sudden onset of fever, a stiff neck, muscle tremors or loss of balance, which essentially means that the virus has gotten into the nervous system, and it starts causing damage,” Doyle said.
Most people who are infected will have no symptoms, Doyle said, but older adults and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness.
“A roughly one in 100 to 150 people will have a serious case,” Doyle said. “And so what that means is for that one person, there’s probably been about 100 to 250 people who’ve been infected with West Nile. And this has finally gotten to a point where enough people have been infected that will get someone who, unfortunately, reacts seriously to the disease.”
Doyle said to call your doctor right away if you get sick after a mosquito bite.
“There’s no actual cure for West Nile. There’s no vaccine or treatment directly. It’s supportive care. So, the sooner a person who starts having these symptoms is treated in the hospital, the more likely they’ll get over the symptoms and be able to continue life as normal,” Doyle said.
Health officials continue to monitor mosquito populations across the state, including positive mosquito samples found in Cabarrus, Forsyth and Mecklenburg counties.
To reduce the chance of getting bitten by a mosquito, Doyle suggests supporting your city’s vector support program, where he said personnel come out and set traps to catch infected mosquitoes.
Doyle also said using mosquito repellent and increasing light and airflow in dark, wet areas around your yard during warmer months can also cut down on mosquito populations.
Jatrissa Wooten
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