Delaware has its first case of West Nile Virus this year, but it’s not a human.
West Nile Virus was detected August 27th in DNREC’s sentinel chickens at a northern New Castle County location where chickens are sampled regularly for the mosquito-transmitted disease.
This is the first case in the state this year, and so far there are no human cases reported in Delaware.
But DNREC notes the possibility of contracting mosquito-transmitted diseases, including West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis continues until colder autumn temperatures hit about mid-October or later.
DNREC’s Mosquito Control section tests blood samples from sentinel chickens for West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis every week from early July into October.
Most people infected with West Nile Virus don’t develop symptoms, but some can develop a mild illness, which may include fever, body and muscle aches, a headache, nausea, vomiting, and a rash.
Even fewer develop serious illness involving neurological problems, paralysis and possibly death.
DNREC recommends taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites, including wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors in mosquito-prone areas, applying insect repellent, and avoiding mosquito-infested areas and times of peak mosquito activity around dusk, dawn and at night.
