CONCORD — The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has identified the first batch of mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) this season.
The batch was found recently in the city of Manchester, and DHHS is working in partnership with the City of Manchester Health Department on notification to Manchester residents.
“West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans from the bite of an infected mosquito,” N.H. State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said in a press release. “The best way to avoid WNV and other mosquito-transmitted infections is to take steps to prevent mosquito bites. The most effective precautions are to use an effective mosquito repellant that contains 30 percent DEET, avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk, and remove standing water from around the home, where mosquitos reproduce.”
WNV is an arbovirus transmitted from the bite of an infected mosquito. WNV was first identified in New Hampshire in August of 2000. The DHHS Public Health Lab has tested 526 mosquito batches, four animals, and seven people so far this season for arboviruses. Last year, nine mosquito batches and one human tested positive for WNV, all according to NHDHHS.
Symptoms of the WNV usually appear within a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito, although many people can be infected and not develop any symptoms, or only develop very mild symptoms. Symptoms can include flu-like illness including fever, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue. A very small percentage of individuals infected with WNV can go on to develop more serious central nervous system disease, including meningitis or encephalitis.
If you or someone you know is experiencing flu-like symptoms, including fever and headache, contact your local medical provider. Anyone with questions about arboviruses, including WNV, can call the New Hampshire Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at (603) 271-4496. Fact Sheets and prevention guidelines on West Nile Virus and other arboviruses are available on the DHHS website at www.dhhs.nh.gov.
For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.
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