The Durham County Health Department said the case is the first the county has had since 2022, and the first case in North Carolina in 2025.
The department said the virus is transmitted to humans by bites from infected mosquitoes. In a small number of cases, the department said it has been spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding, and, during pregnancy, from mother to baby. The virus cannot be spread by "casual person-to-person", according to the health department.
"The best way to prevent West Nile virus is to prevent any mosquito bites, especially this time of year when mosquito activity is higher," said Durham County Department of Public Health Environmental Health Director James Salter. "People should take steps to prevent mosquito bites and all bug bites anytime they're going to be outside in order to reduce their risk of getting West Nile or any vector-borne diseases, which are diseases carried by mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks."
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Officials said most people who are infected with West Nile virus don't develop symptoms, and about 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. About 1 in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system, with symptoms including high fever, headache, muscle weakness, vision loss, and numbness.
More information about West Nile Virus can be found here.
Tips on how to prevent mosquito bites and vector-borne disease can be found on the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' website.