Mosquitoes acquire the West Nile virus from birds, then transmit the virus to humans when they bite.(Photo: Getty Images / iStockphoto)

GREEN BAY – The first human case of West Nile virus in Brown County was confirmed Thursday, prompting health officials to urge residents again to protect against mosquito bites.

They did not say where the infected person lives.

Authorities announced the presence of West Nile in the county in early August, after a dead bird was tested positive for the disease. Birds and humans usually contract the virus from infected mosquito bites.

Residents of at least four other Wisconsin counties deal with West Nile: Dane, Iowa, Milwaukee and Waukesha.

RELATED: West Nile case in Brown County; Dead birds are positive for the virus

About half of Wisconsin counties have had positive tests for West Nile this year. These include the counties of Calumet, Door, Manitowoc, Marinette, Outagamie and Winnebago.

Brown County also had a human contract with the West Nile in 2017.

From 2002 to 2017, 305 people in Wisconsin contracted the virus. Fifty-one of these cases were diagnosed in 2017, the third busiest year for human cases in West Nile.

Here is the press release published on Thursday:

National and local health authorities are advising residents to continue to protect themselves against mosquito bites as they announce the first confirmed human case of West Nile virus in a resident of Brown County.

The majority of human cases of WNV in the state occur in August and September. However, the risk of contracting WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases is present whenever mosquitoes are active. It is therefore important to be vigilant to prevent mosquito bites throughout the summer and early fall.

The chances that a person gets WNV are low; most people infected with West Nile virus will not have any symptoms. Those who become ill can develop fever, headaches and rashes that last a few days. Symptoms can appear between three and fifteen days after the bite.

In rare cases, WNV can cause muscle weakness, stiff neck, disorientation, tremors, seizures, paralysis and coma. Elderly people and people with compromised immune systems are at increased risk of serious illness from the virus.

There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus other than the treatment of symptoms. If you think you have a West Nile virus infection, contact your health care provider.

WNV is not passed from person to person.

Ways to minimize your exposure and eliminate mosquito breeding areas include:

Limit time spent at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

Apply an insect repellent containing DEET, IR3535, picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil on exposed skin and clothing.

»Make sure window screens and doors are in good condition.

»Prevent mosquitoes from breeding by removing stagnant water from objects around your property, such as cans, plastic containers, flowerpots, discarded tires, gutters, and downspouts.

»Turn the wheelbarrows, the wading pools, the boats and the canoes.

Change the water in the bird baths and pet dishes at least every three days.

»Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs; drain the water from the pool covers.

"Landscape to prevent water from accumulating in low areas and cutting tall grass, weeds and vines, as mosquitoes use these areas to rest during the hot hours of the day.

The State Department of Health Services has been monitoring the spread of West Nile virus since 2001 among wild birds, horses, mosquitoes and humans. In 2002, the state documented its first human infections; 52 cases were reported this year. West Nile virus infections in humans have been reported from June to October.

Surveillance of West Nile virus will continue until the end of the mosquito season.

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