The Fulton County Health Department announced Ohio’s first case of West Nile virus in 2025, in a county resident and the state confirmed the case.
Fulton County is just to the northwest of Wood County.
Mosquitoes spread West Nile virus, which can make people sick, though most people do not get seriously ill.
“Most people who get West Nile virus don’t even know they have it,” said Andrea Schwiebert, Director of
Nursing at the Fulton County Health Department. “But for some, it can cause fever, headache, and
body aches. In rare cases, it can lead to more serious problems.”
She added people over age 60 or those with health problems are at higher risk for serious illness. Only a heat
The state website states the best way to prevent West Nile is to avoid mosquito bites.
Approximately 80% of people who are infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms at all, but there is no way to know in advance if you will develop an illness or not. Those who do develop symptoms usually do so between two to 14 days after they are bitten by the infected mosquito.
Up to 20% of people who become infected will have symptoms that can last for a few days to as long as several weeks and include:
- Fever.
- Headache.
- Body aches.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Swollen lymph glands.
- Rash on chest, stomach or back.
About one in 150 people infected with West Nile virus will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms may last several weeks, and neurologic effects may be permanent. Symptoms of severe illness can include:
- High fever.
- Headache.
- Neck stiffness.
- Stupor.
- Disorientation.
- Coma.
- Tremors.
- Convulsions.
- Muscle weakness.
- Vision loss.
- Numbness.
- Paralysis.
