The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has received reports of two recent deaths in the Central Nebraska region that have been attributed to West Nile Virus (WNV).
Over the last five years, Nebraska has averaged six WNV deaths per year. There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat WNV in people.
WNV can occur in people of any age but people over 50 years of age or older or with compromised immune systems are at the greatest risk for severe illness. Mild signs or symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph glands. Severe signs or symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, occasional convulsions, and paralysis.
Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not feel sick. Approximately one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. Approximately one out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.
DHHS encourages Nebraskans to take preventive steps to “fight the bite” and avoid mosquito bites. For more information, visit dhhs.ne.gov.