Suffolk County: Eighth resident is infected with West Nile virus this year

West Nile virus has been diagnosed in a resident of Brookhaven, the eighth resident of Suffolk County, to contract mosquito-borne disease this year, county health officials said.

The last patient, over 55 years old, was hospitalized for symptoms of West Nile and is recovering at home, officials said.

"There is no perceptible trend," said Dr. James Tomarken, Health Services Commissioner for Suffolk. "We only know the cases in which the patient requested treatment and we received laboratory confirmation of West Nile virus. The number of residents who have contracted West Nile virus may be many more, but we have never heard of it because they did not see a doctor or ask for attention, but laboratory have not been ordered. "

The seven cases previously reported in 2018 came from the cities of Islip, Huntington, Smithtown, Brookhaven, Southold and Babylon.

West Nile is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. About 20% of those infected will develop symptoms of the disease, officials from the Health Department said.

Benign symptoms of the virus can include fever, headache and body aches, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms in more severe cases may include high fever, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis.

People most at risk of serious infection are people over 55, people suffering from chronic illness or weakened immune system. Residents are encouraged to remove stagnant water where mosquitoes could breed and seek treatment if they have symptoms, said Tomarken.

Suffolk County reported seven human cases in 2017; five in 2016 and 2015; one in 2014; and four in 2011 and 2013. The county reported 14 human cases in 2012 and 25 in 2010, when three people died.

The mosquito season started on June 1st and ended on November 1st.

For medical questions related to West Nile Virus, call the Public Health Division of the Suffolk Department of Health Services at 631-854-0333.

Robert Brodsky is a last-minute reporter who works at Newsday since 2011. He is an alum of Queens College and American University.