NOTICE: Authorities confirm Lewis County horse tested positive for West Nile Virus, marking first case locally for human or animals in over 10-years

GREIG- A case of West Nile Virus has officially been confirmed in Lewis County, according to a notice released Friday by the Public Health Office in Lowville, NY.

Although mild illness from WNV is more common than not, officials warn people over 50 years-of-age are at the highest risk of severe illness, which can lead to inflammation of the brain, inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, coma and sometimes even death.

Mild symptoms reflect that of the flu or common cold, such as fever, headache, body aches, nausea and occasional rashes and/or swollen lymph glands.

According to New York’s Department of Agriculture and Markets, this case specifically involves a horse in the town of Greig.

Public Health Officials say this is the first case of WNV in Lewis County, in either humans and/or animals, in over 10-years.

Listen to our latest on-air coverage from Thursday, August 3 with Public Health Supervising Nurse Marcia Ashline and Communicable Disease Nurse Maryann Vargulick:

Although it’s not known exactly as to how the virus ended up here locally, officials say this potentially serious and sometimes fatal illness is primarily spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes.

With that being said, the Public Health Office says recent heavy rains and hot humid weather create ideal conditions for mosquito populations to increase rapidly.

Lewis County Public Health is urging people to take precautions to help avoid mosquito bites in both humans and animals.

There is no human vaccine for WNV, and the best way to fight the disease is to prevent exposure in the first place.

Prevention steps include:

• Emptying any sources of water on the property, such as tires, kiddie pools, ceramic pots, watering cans and wheelbarrows.
• Changing the water in birdbaths and animal troughs at least twice a week.
• Cleaning and chlorinating swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs.
• Using insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to package instructions.
• If possible, covering skin with long sleeves, pants, and socks when outdoors during active mosquito season, especially at dusk and dawn which is the peak mosquito biting time.
• Repairing or replacing all window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Clearing roof gutters, removing leaf debris from yards and gardens, and cleaning vegetation and debris from the edge of ponds.

For more information, call Lewis County Public Health at 315-376-5453.

CDC image. This story was updated with an audio segment on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.