Louisville Residentsโ Advisedโ to Protect Against West Nile Virus Following Recent Cases
Louisvilleโค health officials are urging residents to takeโฃ precautions against West Nile virus following a recent confirmed case in the city. The โขLouisville โmetro Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) โฃcontinues โคto monitor mosquito populations and implement controlโฃ measures as โขthe region experiences ongoing risk.
In 2023, seven โฃpositive West Nile virus cases were identified in Louisville, resulting in twoโ fatalities. This followed three positive โคcases and one death reported in 2022. Whileโค most individuals infected with the virus experience no symptoms or mild, flu-like illness, severe cases can occur in people of any age.
“Serious illness can occur in peopleโฃ of any age,” said โฃdr. Kris Bryant,a pediatric โขinfectious disease specialist and associate medical director for โLMPHW. “However, people over 60 years of age are at the greatest risk for severe disease. โขPeople with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, โคdiabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and people who haveโฃ receivedโข organ transplants are at greater risk for serious illness.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms typically appear two toโ six days after โan infectedโข mosquito bite. Severe illnessโฃ can affect โthe central nervous system and may require hospitalization or lead to death.
LMPHW’sโ mosquito control team โis actively conducting surveillance,โ misting, and fogging operations throughout Louisville neighborhoods.
Health officials recommend several preventative โmeasures to reduce the risk of mosquito bites and Westโข Nile virus transmission: use insect repellent, wearโฃ long sleeves and pants when outdoors, particularly during dawn and dusk when โคmosquitoes โare most active, โeliminate standing water around homes, and ensure windows โฃand doors have intact screens.