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BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Department of Health has confirmed the state's first case this year of human illness from West Nile virus, a disease spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.
The department said Friday that a Windsor County resident got sick in mid-June and was diagnosed with a more serious illness that affects the nervous system called West Nile neuroinvasive disease.
Officials say most people who are infected do not become sick. About 20 percent get symptoms including high fever, muscle aches, headache and fatigue.
Since 2003 nine human cases of West Nile have been reported in Vermont.
The Health Department says the risk of sickness is usually highest in late summer so this early case is unusual and is reminding people to take steps to prevent mosquito bites.
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This story has been corrected to show that the person was sickened in mid-June.
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