A Kent County resident was hospitalized after experiencing symptoms, according to the Kent County Health Department. This is the first neuroinvasive case of West Nile Virus in the county, meaning it’s affecting the patient’s nervous system. Health officials believe the virus was contracted locally due to the resident’s lack of recent travel outside the county and no occupational risk factors for the virus.
The KCHD Mosquito Surveillance team detected a virus-positive mosquito pool on Grand Rapids’ northwest side as part of their annual summer tracking and testing activities, and this location aligns with the general area where the infected resident lives.
KCHD’s Supervising Sanitarian Brendan Earl says this case emphasizes the need for heightened vigilance and preventative measures. It confirms that mosquitoes in Kent County are actively carrying the virus.
Only about 20% of the people infected with West Nile Virus will notice symptoms, which include headache, body aches, joint pains and fatigue. Most infected people recover completely, but about 1 in 150 people develop severe illness that can affect the nervous system.
There is no vaccine or cure for West Nile Virus.
