Two Dane County residents have tested positive for the West Nile Virus, the first two of the season in the county and the third and fourth in Wisconsin.
The disease, which is not spread from person to person, is contracted when an infected mosquito bites an individual. The likelihood of contracting the virus is low and even those infected are not likely to exhibit symptoms, according to the city.
“With the warm, wet weather this late summer and fall our mosquito season has extended longer than in past years,” Public Health Madison-Dane County Health Supervisor John Hausbeck said in a Wednesday press release.
Those who do become ill may develop a fever, headache, rash, muscle and joint aches, nausea, vomiting and fatigue that can last a few days. Symptoms may begin three to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. In rare cases encephalitis and meningitis can develop from a WNV infection.
The public health department encouraged anyone who thinks they may have the infection to contact a healthcare provider. Mosquito activity, and chances of contracting the infection, will continue until there is frost or a hard freeze.
