As Palm Beach County continues to deal with the coronavirus, another health concern has prompted a new alert.
Health officials from the state confirmed on Thursday a second case of West Nile Virus in our area.
For that reason, they have issued a mosquito-borne illness alert.
Dr. Alina Alonso, who serves as the local director for the Florida Department of Health, is urging residents to wear long sleeves and light colors to avoid being bitten, and to use insect repellant.
DOH-PALM BEACH OFFICIALS ISSUE MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESS ALERT
#Mosquitos#Mosquito-Borneillness
For more information:https://t.co/HEwYdTdfyw pic.twitter.com/3h3PhjQPkO— HealthyFLPBC (@HealthyFLPBC) August 13, 2020
Nearly 80 percent of individuals who become infected with West Nile are asymptomatic. The remainder typically develop headaches, fever and pain, as well as fatigue.
The county’s first case of West Nile was discovered on June 27.
The last cases of the virus in the county were reported two years ago.
Due to the outbreak, Palm Beach County is planning to conduct an aerial mosquito spraying 30 minutes after sunset on Friday.
It will cover nearly 280,000 acres of areas west of Military Trail, from the western portions of Boca Raton north to Wellington, The Acreage/Loxahatchee, and Jupiter Farms, as well as communities in the Glades.