New York City is being visited by some undesirable tourists this summer : mosquito riddle with the West Nile computer virus . A record number of mosquito infect with the computer virus have been detected across all five boroughs of NYC and at least two masses have fallen mad with the contagion , according to theNYC Health Department .
wellness authorities placed mosquito cakehole across the city and found a aggregate of 1,068 irrefutable mosquito pool across the five borough – the highest figure ever recorded – compared to 779 positive consortium detected in 2021 . The phone number of mosquitos found in each puddle was also higher than last year .
Despite its name , the West Nile virus is normally found in Africa , Europe , the Middle East , North America , and West Asia . It unexpectedly arrived in the US around 1999 and went on to infectsome 51,702 Americansin 20 years .
Nevertheless , the get up presence of the mosquito - borne virus in NYC is surprising . Over the preceding two 10 , the majority of West Nile computer virus body process has been found in the warmer southern commonwealth , such as California , Arizona , New Mexico , Texas , Louisiana , and Florida . While guinea pig have been determine in NYC before , the rise in number of mosquitos infected with the virus could be a case for worry .
The reasonableness behind the uptick in infected mosquito was n’t talk about by the NYC Health Department , but it ’s noteworthy that the city was sear bya historical heat wavein July , produce balmy temperatures that mosquitos fly high in .
Around 80 percent of the great unwashed infected with the West Nile virus do not develop any symptom , according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention . Around 20 percent will feel an unpleasant but comparatively mild illness consisting of a fever , headache , body ache , joint nisus , vomiting , diarrhea , or a rash .
However , around 1 in 150 people will train a wicked illness affecting the central nervous organization , necessitate brainpower fervour or meningitis . This severe illness is disastrous in around 10 percent of font .
To make matters worse , there are currently no vaccinum or medicines usable for West Nile virus contagion . There are , however , a few thing you may do to reduce the risk of being bitten and , in turn , lower the betting odds of catch the virus .
“ We are in the height of West Nile virus time of year , but there are things you’re able to do to lessen your risk of infection of being bitten , ” Dr Ashwin Vasan , Health Commissioner , say in astatement .
“ Use an EPA registered worm repellent , wear long arm and pant , especially when outdoors at fall and break of the day when the types of mosquitoes that transmit WNV are most dynamic . In addition , you may stop mosquito from laying egg in the water by emptying outdoor container that hold water or calling 311 if you see stand water that you may not empty . avail keep you and your loved one good with these action mechanism during WNV time of year , ” explained Vasan .
