Monroe County - The first human case of West Nile Virus has been
reported in our area. The Monroe County Department of Public
Health released few other details regarding the case, but warned
that humans are at a high risk to contract the disease from now
until the first heavy frost of the year. There have been 34
human cases of West Nile Virus reported in New York State so far
this year. To reduce your risk of contracting the virus, the
health department recommends covering exposed skin and using
insect repellent that contains DEET. Health leaders also
recommend draining pools of standing water, which can become
breeding grounds for mosquitoes. People over 50 and those with
chronic illness are at the highest risk for the virus. Symptoms
of West Nile mimic the flu. According to the Centers for Disease
Control, less than 1 percent of mosquitoes carry the West Nile
Virus.