A Louisville resident has died from the West Nile virus, health officials confirmed. It is the first death reported this year in the Metro.According to Louisville Metro Health and Wellness, two more people in the area have also tested positive.Watch our report on the first two cases in the player below:This news comes just days after the department announced the first two cases of the year.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States, commonly spread by their bites.It’s not unusual for mosquitoes to carry the virus this time of year. In most instances, people infected with West Nile virus either show no symptoms or relatively mild symptoms. However, less than 1% of infected people develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis. People over 60 years of age are at the greatest risk for severe disease. Those with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and people who have received organ transplants are also at greater risk for serious illness. The department did not provide any information about the person who died.Infected mosquitoes have been found in many Louisville ZIP codes this year. Find the latest list here.For more information on how to protect yourself from mosquito bites, click here.
A Louisville resident has died from the West Nile virus, health officials confirmed. It is the first death reported this year in the Metro.
According to Louisville Metro Health and Wellness, two more people in the area have also tested positive.
Watch our report on the first two cases in the player below:
This news comes just days after the department announced the first two cases of the year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States, commonly spread by their bites.
It’s not unusual for mosquitoes to carry the virus this time of year.
In most instances, people infected with West Nile virus either show no symptoms or relatively mild symptoms. However, less than 1% of infected people develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis.
People over 60 years of age are at the greatest risk for severe disease. Those with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and people who have received organ transplants are also at greater risk for serious illness.
The department did not provide any information about the person who died.
Infected mosquitoes have been found in many Louisville ZIP codes this year. Find the latest list here.
For more information on how to protect yourself from mosquito bites, click here.