A Staten Island man has come down with the city’s first human case of West Nile Virus this year. The Health Department says the unidentified man was recently hospitalized with viral meningitis and has since been released.
He is said to be over the age of 50, a group that is more likely than others to become seriously ill from the virus.
Officials have already done three rounds of pesticide spraying on Staten Island to reduce the number of mosquitoes.
West Nile virus can cause flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, muscle aches and extreme fatigue.
New Yorkers are urged to use bug repellent, wear long sleeves and pants in the morning and evening, fix torn window screens and report any standing water to 311.
(Source: NY1)