1st human West Nile Virus case confirmed today near Cincinnati

COLUMBUS

Ohio’s first human case of West Nile virus in 2012 was confirmed Friday by the Ohio Department of Health, which also reported a sharp increase in the number of WNV-positive mosquitoes.

A case of WNV encephalitis was confirmed in an 85-year-old man who is hospitalized in Clermont County.

“It’s important that residents take note and are diligent in protecting themselves against mosquito bites,” said ODH director Dr. Ted Wymyslo.

So far in 2012, 374 mosquito pools (samples) have tested positive for the virus. At this time last year, the ODH lab had recorded only 59 WNV-positive mosquito pools. This year’s early

increase in West Nile activity is similar to 2002, during which there were 299 positive pools by the end of July. By the end of the 2002 season, there were 441 human West Nile cases and 31 fatalities in Ohio.