Human cases of West Nile virus reported in Riverhead and Brookhaven

Two new human cases of West Nile virus in Suffolk County, including one in the Town of Riverhead, were announced yesterday by Suffolk County Health Commissioner Gregson Pigott.

The other individual was a Brookhaven resident. Both became ill in September and have recovered without requiring hospitalization, the health commissioner said in a press release..

This season so far, four individuals have been sickened by the West Nile virus in Suffolk. Other cases were detected in Huntington and Southampton.

West Nile virus, first detected in birds and mosquito samples in Suffolk County in 1999 and again each year thereafter, is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. 

Suffolk County reported 11 cases of West Nile virus in 2022 and 8 in 2021. Nine people have died from West Nile virus since 2000. 

“The symptoms of West Nile virus may look like other conditions or health problems, which is why we advise residents who experience symptoms to see a healthcare provider. A lab test is needed to confirm the diagnosis,” Pigott said in the press release.

For more information about West Nile virus in Suffolk visit the county health department’s website. 

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. 

To report mosquito problems or stagnant pools of water, call the Department of Public Works’ Vector Control Division at 631-852-4270.

The health commissioner urged people aged 50 or older and those with compromised immune systems to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Avoid mosquito bites in the following ways:

• Minimize outdoor activities between dusk and dawn.
• Wear shoes and socks, long pants and long-sleeved shirts when mosquitoes are active.
• Use mosquito repellent, following label directions carefully.
• Make sure all windows and doors have screens, and that all screens are in good repair.
• Keep mosquitoes from laying eggs inside and outside of your home. Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out containers that hold water, such as vases, pet water bowls, flowerpot saucers, discarded tires, buckets, pool covers, birdbaths, trash cans and rain barrels.

Download a copy of Suffolk County’s informational brochure “Get the Buzz on Mosquito Protection,” below.