Health officials announced today that a Manchester resident has been infected with West Nile Virus.
It’s the first confirmed infection since September, 2010 in New Hampshire.
West Nile Virus first appeared in the state in 2000. Since then, four other humans have contracted the mosquito-borne virus.
National data from the CDC shows that the number of confirmed cases has risen dramatically in recent weeks.
There have also been 41 deaths; more than half in the state of Texas, where over 500 cases have been reported.
“This is quite an unusual year for West Nile Virus.”
Jose Montero is New Hampshire’s Director of Public Health. He says that while the risk to humans is low, people should do all they can to prevent mosquito bites.
Officials in Manchester and Derry have announced that they will begin spraying insecticides in the days ahead.
