West Nile Virus Found in Henrico Mosquitoes

Health officials discovered Virginia’s first case of West Nile virus this year in West End mosquitoes.

The infected mosquitoes were collected July 13 in Henrico County near Monument Avenue. The results were confirmed Monday. Virginians should try to eliminate mosquito-breeding areas around their homes and protect themselves from infection, said Dr. Robert Stroube, the state health commissioner.

“Though we are experiencing a slightly delayed onset of West Nile virus activity this year, this positive test is a reminder that West Nile virus is still present in Virginia,” Stroube said.

Typically, most human cases in Virginia occur in late summer, when the virus has had time to build up strength.

Last year, the virus was detected early in the rainy mosquito season: first in an infected horse in May and then a month later among mosquitoes in Fairfax County. The virus eventually sickened four people and killed a Mount Vernon man.

West Nile virus spreads to birds, humans, horses and other mammals from the bite of infected mosquitoes. The sometimes-fatal virus was first detected in Virginia in 2000, a year after it was first detected in North America.

Most people infected will not get sick. About a fifth of those infected will develop a fever, headache, body aches and sometimes a rash and swollen lymph glands. Human symptoms for West Nile encephalitis or meningitis include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation and sometimes paralysis.

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for humans.