Elliott woman, 80, dies after contracting West Nile virus

An 80-year-old resident of the city’s Elliott neighborhood died after contracting West Nile virus, the Allegheny County Health Department announced Monday.

The woman, whose name was not disclosed, represents the first known human case of the virus in the county this year. She died late last month, per a Monday news release, after she “experienced fever and weakness, leading to hospitalization.”

Previously, the most recent human case of the virus in the area was reported in September 2022, a Brighton Heights man in his 60s who experienced mild symptoms.

West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquitoborne disease in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus can cause fever, diarrhea, vomiting, headache and body aches, but the majority of people infected do not develop symptoms or feel sick. A small subset of those infected — about 1 in 150 — develop severe illness from the disease, such as encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain.

The ACHD did not disclose additional information about the Elliott woman’s specific cause of death, citing privacy concerns.

As recently as Monday, according to the release, the ACHD has added mosquito traps to Elliott specifically and the West End more broadly. And in recent months, the West Nile surveillance program has seen areas in which mosquitoes tested positive for the virus — more than two dozen city neighborhoods and seven municipalities — get sprayed with a mosquito pesticide.

In April, the county began treating more than 50 wetlands in 20 municipalities for mosquito and blackfly larva.

In addition to such government-led abatements, you can take care of yourself. General prevention measures include wearing long sleeves and pants and spraying exposed skin with an insect repellent containing diethyltoluamide, commonly known as DEET, when outside.

Monitoring for standing water is also key. It’s a big culprit of mosquito breeding, and the ACHD asks that residents be on alert. If you see issues in your area, report them by calling the ACHD’s Housing and Community Environment program at 412-350-4046 or filling its online complaint form.