Two adults are recovering from the West Nile Virus in Onondaga County. They are the first human cases in the county this year.
Health officials say their cases are very severe, and they are lucky to be alive.
The two patients were hospitalized earlier this month and are now at home. It happened in Clay and Syracuse.
Mosquitoes carrying the virus have been found in numerous traps throughout the county this summer. So far, 17 pools of mosquitoes tested positive.
While most people infected do not develop symptoms, 1 in 5 can. Some of those symptoms include fever, vomiting, seizures, and in severe cases even death.
There is no vaccine or specific treatment for West Nile.
The health commissioner says even though the mosquito population drops this time of year, it's still important to protect yourself by:
- Wearing protective clothing and mosquito repellent
- Removing standing water from your yard
- Closing all windows and doors
- Changing water in bird baths at least every four days
- Cleaning rain gutters and outdoor pools
The county will continue to test traps until late October when the mosquitoes should die off.