United States: Vermont health officials have confirmed the state’s first human case of Jamestown Canyon virus, a disease spread by mosquitoes. The infection is usually mild, especially for young and healthy people, but it can cause more serious illness in older adults or those with weak immune systems.
The Vermont Department of Health began testing mosquitoes for the virus this year after it appeared in neighboring states. Mosquitoes in Rutland, Marshfield, and Whitingham were found carrying it, and a Windsor County resident tested positive on September 8. Public health veterinarian Natalie Kwit said the case proves the virus is present in Vermont and serves as a reminder to take mosquito protection seriously.
Mosquitoes pick up Jamestown Canyon virus when they feed on infected animals, especially deer. They can then pass it to humans and other animals. People cannot spread the virus to one another because the amount of virus passed through a bite is too low, according to the reports.
Most infected people never develop symptoms. For those who do, signs can resemble the flu — fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches. Severe cases can involve confusion, trouble with coordination, stiff neck, or seizures. Roughly half of symptomatic patients end up in the hospital, health officials said.
The best defense is to avoid mosquito bites.
The Department of Health advises:
- Stay indoors at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
- Wear long sleeves and use insect repellent.
- Use window and door screens, and cover strollers or playpens with mosquito netting.
- Remove standing water from buckets, pots, or toys where mosquitoes can breed.
Kwit noted that the risk of mosquito-borne illness is highest in late summer, since the virus has had more time to spread among deer and mosquitoes. The threat will continue until the first hard frost.
Vermont also tests mosquitoes for West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). No human cases of either have been reported in the state this year, as per certain reports.
“We’re still learning about Jamestown Canyon virus,” Kwit said. “Now that we’re testing for it in Vermont, we’ll get a clearer picture of where it’s circulating as we gather more data.”