HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Sept. 21, 2023) – The Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH) is alerting the public that two people in Ottawa County have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). Both were hospitalized. As of today, neither has died. Neither person has a history of travel and likely became ill from being bitten by an infected mosquito in West Michigan.
This is the highest reported number of cases of WNV in Ottawa County since 2018. Because WNV can result in very serious illness for some people, OCDPH is encouraging the community to use precautions during outdoor activities, such as bonfires and sporting events, to protect themselves from mosquito bites, particularly as warmer weather continues in the region. Mosquitoes stay active until the first hard freeze of the year.
WNV is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. It is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Cases of WNV occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people. Most people infected with WNV do not feel sick. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.
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