Latest news with #mosquito
CBS News
a day ago
- Health
- CBS News
Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus on Long Island
More than a dozen mosquito samples on New York's Long Island have tested positive for West Nile virus, health officials say. The 14 positive mosquito samples were taken in Nesconset, Northport, Dix Hills, Melville, Lindenhurst, West Babylon, St. James, Rocky Point and Holtsville, Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott announced Monday. The samples were collected on July 16. To date, Suffolk has reported 15 mosquito samples testing positive for West Nile virus and four testing positive for Jamestown Canyon virus, Pigott said. "Mosquito activity is picking up with the warmer weather and with it comes the risk of being exposed to West Nile virus," Pigott said. "While there is no cause for alarm, we advise residents to take precautions and cooperate with us in our efforts to reduce exposure to mosquito-borne diseases." West Nile has also been detected in mosquitoes in New York City this year, as experts track a rise in cases nationwide. Suffolk did not report any human cases and neither did the city. West Nile virus has been detected in Suffolk County every year since 1999, when it first appeared, the County Department of Health Services said. There were 21 confirmed cases in 2024 and five in 2023. Two people in New Jersey died from the virus last year. The virus is transmitted to humans when they are bitten by an infected mosquito. "Most people infected with West Nile virus will experience mild or no symptoms, but some can develop severe symptoms including high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis. The symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent. Individuals, especially those 50 years or older or those with compromised immune systems, are urged to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes," according to the county's health department. Suffolk's health commissioner released these tips for preventing mosquito bites:
CBS News
a day ago
- Health
- CBS News
7 Pittsburgh neighborhoods to be treated after more mosquito samples test positive for West Nile Virus
The Allegheny County Health Department on Monday confirmed that additional mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile Virus, and seven more Pittsburgh neighborhoods will be treated as a result. The health department will treat areas for mosquitoes in the communities of Point Breeze, Regent Square, Edgewood, Wilkinsburg, East Hills, Homewood, and Highland Park with the pesticide Zenivex E20. Zenivex E20 is classified by the EPA as a low-risk insecticide as it is not harmful to humans or pets. Crews will spray affected areas on Wednesday, July 30, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. In the event of rain, spraying will take place on Thursday, July 31, during those same hours. West Nile Virus remains the leading mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. and is spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes. Most cases of West Nile Virus occur during mosquito season, which begins in the spring and goes through the fall. The last reported human case of West Nile Virus in Allegheny County occurred in September 2024. "Generally, the species of mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus are active from dusk to dawn," said Allegheny County Health Department Vector Control Specialist Nicholas Baldauf. "To deter mosquito bites, we encourage people to use insect repellent on exposed skin or to wear long sleeves and pants. Both methods are effective at reducing or eliminating the possibility of getting a mosquito bite." People who are infected with West Nile Virus usually do not feel sick, and only one in five infected will develop symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat West Nile Virus. Residents who believe they or someone they know might have contracted West Nile Virus should contact a health care professional for an official evaluation and diagnosis. "Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a half-inch of stagnant water, so residents should pay close attention to potential breeding sites like stagnant water in tires, unused swimming pools, buckets, corrugated piping, and clogged gutters," Baldauf added.
CNA
4 days ago
- Health
- CNA
Southern China hit by outbreak of mosquito-borne infection chikungunya
GUANGDONG: China is experiencing an outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne infection, with thousands of cases reported in the south. Chikungunya fever cases jumped to 4,014 on Friday (Jul 25), representing a rapid rise in numbers since authorities started tracking cases two weeks ago, according to public records released by health departments in districts in Foshan. The city in China's southern province Guangdong has been heavily impacted by the surge in infections. The chikungunya outbreak remains "quite severe", Sun Yang, deputy director of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a news conference on Wednesday in Foshan. Chikungunya is spread to people by the bites of infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain, but deaths are rare, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued various advisories on how to prevent chikungunya fever and dengue fever, a similar disease also spread by mosquitoes. Physical protection barriers, such as screen doors, mosquito nets for beds and mosquito repellent on exposed skin, were recommended. The agency said that the epidemic was 'imported' without specifying from where. It also called for people who have symptoms like fever, rash and joint pain to see a doctor. Shunde district in Foshan, where 90 per cent of the cases are located, is famous for its Cantonese food, and sees many visitors each year. Patients who tested positive for chikungunya fever stayed in hospital beds covered by mosquito nets, according to photos shown on state-run broadcaster CCTV. Local media reports said on Thursday that local authorities had almost doubled the number of mosquito-proof isolation beds to 7,220 to meet the growing demand. Authorities in Guangdong are urging residents to ensure there's no standing water in their homes, such as in flowerpots, coffee machines or spare bottles. The Health Commission in Foshan stated on Thursday that a fine of up to 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) could be applied if violations are found. The Beijing CDC said on Tuesday that the city occasionally experiences imported cases of chikungunya fever. There are two chikungunya vaccines that have received regulatory approvals in several countries and/or have been recommended for use in populations at risk, but the vaccines are neither widely available nor in widespread use, according to the WHO. China had its first chikungunya spike in 2010 with 253 cases in Dongguan, a nearby city in the same province, according to the Guangdong provincial CDC. Several cases were found in the years since then, but they weren't widespread.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Cooler Northern California summer doesn't mean mosquito risk is gone, officials warn
A cooler summer in Northern California may have kept mosquitoes out of sight and out of mind, but Placer County officials are warning: don't let your guard down. Crews at the Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District are ramping up efforts as they prepare for the busiest part of mosquito season, which peaks in late summer. They're closely monitoring mosquito activity and tracking the spread of West Nile virus, which is already showing up in the region. "This about four period of the summer is the time when people should take every precaution from getting mosquito bites," said Joel Buettner, General Manager of the Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 49 human cases of West Nile virus have been reported across the country so far this year, two of them in California. In Placer County alone, 18 mosquito samples tested positive just last week. Inside the lab in Roseville, crews are trapping and testing mosquitoes from across the county. "When our mosquitos come back we put them in our negative eighty freezer," said Lab Supervisor Casey Hubble. "We do not want them alive during identification and we don't want them alive when we're testing them because they have the potential to carry West Nile virus." What makes this year different is the weather. Fewer scorching-hot days have slightly slowed mosquito activity for now. "The cooler weather that we've had this week is slowing down the behavior of the mosquitos in terms of finding blood meals," Buettner said. "But we expect that it will return back to normal by next week." Officials say public prevention is just as important as lab testing and fieldwork. "You need to know when they're out," Buettner added. "The ones that carry West Nile virus are common in the morning around dawn and dusk. Wearing a repellent that has an EPA-registered ingredient like oil of lemon eucalyptus can help." Residents are also urged to dump and drain standing water around their homes, which are common mosquito breeding grounds. Health experts stress that just one bite is enough to spread infection and say with cases already confirmed in California, personal protection should be a top priority.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Colorado adult is the first human death of West Nile virus in the state this year
An adult in Lafayette is the first human death of West Nile virus in Colorado this year. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, along with Boulder County Health, confirmed the death on Friday. State health officials said there have been nine confirmed cases of West Nile virus in residents living in eight counties across Colorado so far this year. According to the CDPHE, West Nile virus has been found in mosquitos in eight of the 16 counties that have tested mosquitos this years including Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties. "We are deeply saddened to confirm the first West Nile virus-related death in our state this year. This tragic loss underscores the serious nature of this virus and why personal prevention is so vital," said Dr. Ned Calonge, Chief Medical Officer at CDPHE, in a statement. "I cannot stress enough the importance of taking simple, effective steps — like using repellant and draining standing water — to protect yourself and your loved ones from West Nile virus infections." State health officials said West Nile virus is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms typically appear three to 14 days after being bitten and may include fever, severe fatigue, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes. While most people infected with West Nile virus don't have symptoms, some can develop a serious, potentially deadly illness. People aged 60 years and older and those with certain medical conditions are at greater risk of serious illness. Talk with a health care provider if you develop a fever with severe headaches or confusion. Additional information from the CDPHE: To protect yourself from West Nile virus:
