A Highland Park woman in her mid-50s is the third person with West Nile virus in Allegheny County this year, according to the county Health Department.
The woman was hospitalized in mid-September and is now recovering at home, health officials said.
West Nile is spread primarily through mosquito bites; it’s not transmitted from person-to-person. County health officials say people who believe they have the virus should be seen by their health care provider.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people infected with West Nile do not develop any symptoms. However, about 1 in 5 people get a fever and other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Most recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can linger for weeks or months.
For a very few with a West Nile infection — about 1 in 150 people — they develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system, such as encephalitis or meningitis. High fever, neck stiffness, tremors, muscle weakness and numbness are among the symptoms. People over 60 are at a greater risk and recovery can take months; about 1 out of 10 with severe illness die.
First Published: September 28, 2018, 5:20 p.m.