A resident of Marion County died of West Nile virus during India's first Indian death since 2012, county health officials said.

The victim was also the only confirmed person to have developed the virus in Marion County this year, according to a statement from the Marion County Public Health Department.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the state last year saw a total of 26 deaths from West Nile virus, a disease transmitted to humans by mosquito bites.

Many people infected with the virus do not even show symptoms, but about one in five people experience fever and / or other symptoms such as body aches, stomach upset or rashes.

Less than 1% of those infected develop a more serious illness, such as encephalitis or meningitis, and fewer than those who die from it.

In the last decade, the only year in which the state recorded more than 25 deaths from the disease occurred in 2012, when 77 people died.

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This year, at least 15 people in Indiana have contracted West Nile virus infections. According to a state-run surveillance card, there were no other deaths reported last Thursday.

No vaccine can block the virus and the only treatment available is supportive care to treat the symptoms of the disease.

The best way to avoid getting sick is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. To do this, stay inside the twilight until dawn; wear long sleeves and long pants if you go out; use an insect repellent containing DEET or other approved EPA products; and remove any stagnant water outside your home.

Call IndyStar staff reporter Shari Rudavsky at (317) 444-6354. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter: @srudavsky.

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