West Nile Virus Apparently Still a Thing -- Case Confirmed in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County's health department is reporting that a woman has acquired the West Nile virus -- the first case in the county in five years.The county issued a "mosquito borne disease advisory" yesterday when the case was confirmed, after the woman was diagnosed with the disease by her doctor.Since...

By Matthew Hendley

December 8, 2011

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Palm Beach County's health department is reporting that a woman has acquired the West Nile virus -- the first case in the county in five years.

The county issued a "mosquito borne disease advisory" yesterday when the case was confirmed, after the woman was diagnosed with the disease by her doctor.

Since 2000 -- when West Nile virus was all the rage -- Palm Beach County has had only six other confirmed cases, according to the county's health department.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there have actually been 21 confirmed or "probable" cases of West Nile virus in the state this year that two people have died from.

Forty people have died this year nationwide from the virus, according to the CDC.

This is the second mosquito-related health advisory issued by Palm Beach County's health department in recent months, after two cases of dengue fever were reported in October.

Since you can get these mosquito diseases only from mosquitoes, the county recommends that you "avoid mosquito bites."

Health department director Alina Alonso says they're monitoring all of the mosquito-related diseases in the county.

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