SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) – Sheboygan County health officials are confirming this year’s first human case of West Nile virus.
The mosquito-transmitted disease can cause severe symptoms, such as muscle weakness, stiff neck, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and coma. Older adults and people with compromised immune systems are at an increased risk of severe disease from the virus.
Transmission of the disease to humans is very rare, but health officials say you can protect yourself by following a number of simple steps. You should be limiting your time outside at both dawn and dusk when mosquitos are most active, and be sure that when you are outside to use mosquito and bug repellant. You should also be making sure that no items on your property are holding stagnant or brackish water, since that is where mosquitos prefer to breed.
If you’d like more information about how to protect yourself from West Nile, call the Sheboygan County Division of Public Health at (920) 459-4382 or visit https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/arboviral/westnilevirus.htm.
