Health officials from the Hillsborough County Health Department reported that a case of the West Nile virus had been confirmed in Hillsborough County, Florida, according to Fox13.
Officials did not give any additional detail as to where the person might’ve contacted the virus from, according to Fox13.
JUST IN | According to a press release, health officials are concerned other people living in the county could become ill.
Tips for limiting exposure >> https://t.co/v5nvN4MmKw
— ABC Action News (@abcactionnews) November 10, 2020
Health officials for the county have asked that residents and visitors take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
“There is a heightened concern additional residents may become ill,” the Hillsborough County Health Department announced in a press release, according to Fox13. (RELATED: ‘Twin Peaks’ Star Clark Middleton Dead At 63 From The West Nile Virus)
The West Nile virus symptoms include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, muscle weakness, and vision loss, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website.
The virus can affect people of all ages, how people 60 years of ago and older are primarily at risk, according to the CDC’s website.
Health officials suggest the following precautions in order to prevent from contracting the virus.
Drain standing water in everything from garbage cans, pool covers, coolers, and house gutters where water can collect and mosquitoes tend to multiply. In addition, health officials recommend emptying and cleans birdbaths and pet bowls anywhere from once or twice a week.
Health officials also recommend covering up with shoes, socks, and long pants and long sleeve shirts. Apply bug repellants such as DEET, lemon eucalyptus essential oil, menthane-diol, 2-undecanone, as well as IR3535. This practice is reportedly referred to as “Drain and Cover,” according to Fox13.