As the U.S. tries to recover from the devastation left behind by COVID-19, the CDC has now announced that multiple states have reported mosquitoes carrying paralysis causing disease.
New York, Arizona, Iowa, Arkansas, Illinois, Colorado, and Massachusetts have all reported cases of West Nile Virus, with humans having contracted the disease in Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, and Iowa.
Though rare, West Nile Virus can result in neurological difficulties, including paralysis. In extreme cases, people have died after being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus. More common symptoms include fatigue, body aches, memory loss, extremity weakness, and headaches.
The Colorado health department attributes the increase in mosquitoes to the summer season, which is wetter and hotter. All state residents have been advised to take necessary precautions.
In the United States alone, approximately 130 people die from West Nile Virus annually. Since no vaccine exists to prevent the virus, the CDC advises using mosquito repellent and getting rid of standing water near your home that attracts mosquitoes, such as buckets and toys that may contain moisture from rain.
