Sixth human case of West Nile Virus reported for 2025 08.12.25

August 8, 2025

Sixth human case of West Nile Virus reported for 2025

MOBILE, Ala. — A case of human West Nile Virus (WNV), which is a form of mosquito-borne encephalitis, has been confirmed in Mobile County, according to Dr. Kevin Michaels, Health Officer for Mobile County. This is the sixth human case reported in Mobile County this year. Because of patient privacy rights under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), no additional identifying information will be available.

Humans with WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases often have symptoms of high fever, severe headache, nausea, stiff neck, confusion, muscle weakness, paralysis, disorientation, and seizures that are severe enough to require medical attention. In rare cases, WNV can cause coma or death. The seriousness of an illness may depend on a person’s health and age.

The risk of encephalitis spread by mosquitoes is highest from August through the first freeze in the fall. Vector Services will increase spraying and conduct door-to-door surveys in the immediate areas. Inspectors will also attempt to trap adult mosquitoes and test them for the presence of WNV.

Dr. Michaels warns that it is extremely important that people taking part in outdoor activities make every effort to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes and should always keep mosquito repellent with them when outdoors. Mosquito activity peaks at dusk and again at dawn. He goes on to advise that draining standing water will stop mosquitoes from multiplying, cover doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house and cover skin with clothing or appropriate repellent.

WNV is transmitted from bird to mosquito to bird. Mosquitoes can spread these viruses by feeding on the blood of infected birds and then biting another host animal or mammal, such as a human or a horse. Although humans and horses can become ill from the infection, the disease cannot be spread from people or horses. The likelihood of transmission to humans and horses can be decreased by personal mosquito avoidance and the use of WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) vaccines in horses. There are no WNV or EEE vaccines available for humans.

MCHD has an active surveillance program involving sentinel chickens, mosquito collections, and case reporting from healthcare providers in the community. We have active partnerships with the University of South Alabama (USA) and the University of South Florida (USF) supporting each of these programs. USA tests mosquito pools for the presence of virus known to cause arthropod illnesses and USF tests the chicken blood for antibodies demonstrating transmission in the community. “Both universities’ programs aid in targeting our mosquito control efforts in Mobile County,” said Dr. Derrick Scott, Bureau Director of Environmental Health.

Our online portal is now available to help the public request assistance from Vector Services and receive feedback on their request to deal with mosquitoes or rodents. To learn more, visit https://mchd.org/vector-control. From there, you can find a link and a QR code to access the new online portal for ordering services. The telephone numbers for those without internet access are 251-690-8124 for Mosquito Control and 251-690-8819 for Rodent Control.

MCHD has launched an interactive story map focusing on mosquito activity and arbovirus surveillance. This tool is for the public to learn about mosquitoes, the arboviruses they cause, and how they can protect themselves. Residents can find the link at https://mchd.org/ under “Community Tools.” It can also be found at the following link: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/ce89a50495fa4a908880cefe903506b5.