Vermont has 1st human illness from West Nile this year
BURLINGTON (AP) -- The Vermont Health Department says it has confirmed that one person has been sickened by West Nile virus spread by mosquitoes this year.
The Health Department said Tuesday that the person became ill early this month and has recovered.
Officials say West Nile virus also has turned up in a horse in Lamoille County. The animal had to be euthanized.
Last year, three Vermonters were confirmed to have been sickened by the virus.
Health officials say most people who become infected do not get sick. About 20 percent have flu-like symptoms and under 1 percent experience more severe illness that affects the nervous system. Symptoms of the more serious illness may include a stiff neck and severe headache.
TALK TO US
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.