First Death in New York This Year From West Nile Virus
The Onondaga County Health Department says a person in
the county has died from West Nile Virus.
The health department says an older adult, who was the
county’s second human case of the virus this year, was hospitalized for several
days and later succumbed to the disease.
The health department says this is the first death from
West Nile Virus the county has ever had. It is also the first death attributed
to the West Nile virus in New York State in 2012.
“It is with sorrow that I share this news today. My
thoughts are with the family.” said county health commissioner Dr. Cynthia
Morrow.
The health department says the details of this
individual’s death will not be shared with the public out of respect for the
family and for confidentiality reasons.
80 percent of the people who contract West Nile virus are
unaware of it. The rest suffer from flu-like symptoms. In very rare cases, the
virus can attack the brain and become deadly.
Earlier in August, the health department said an adult
was briefly hospitalized after contracting West Nile Virus, but was expected to
fully recover.
A child in Oswego County was also diagnosed with the
virus earlier this month.
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