Wisconsin Department of Health confirms first case of West Nile virus

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported the first human case of West Nile virus this year in a Sheboygan County resident, and cases of West Nile virus have also been reported in three Wisconsin animals, horses and one bird. These animal cases have been found in Trempealeau, Monroe, and Milwaukee counties. The Ministry of Health warns people to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Despite the lower temperatures, mosquito activity and the risk of infection with West Nile virus will persist until the first frost (temperatures below 28 degrees for at least four consecutive hours). “This report of the first case of West Nile virus is a reminder of the continued importance of taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites and the viruses they carry during the transition into fall,” state health official Paula Trans said. “While West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne viruses pose a risk to the entire population of Wisconsin, people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop serious illness.” West Nile virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus is not transmitted directly from person to person, animal to animal, or animal to animal.