West Nile health alerts issued across South Florida

Five new cases of virus reported in Miami-Dade

All three South Florida counties are under health alerts after more cases emerged of West Nile Virus, a disease spread to humans by mosquitoes and concern that symptoms of the disease are similar to those of COVID-19.

The latest alert from Miami-Dade County was issued after officials confirmed five new cases of West Nile Virus due to local transmission Thursday.

Broward County’s warning came last week, issued after health officials confirmed multiple cases and worried more are coming, the county’s health department said.

Palm Beach County has had a similar alert since earlier last month.

Currently, there are no vaccines or medications to treat people who contact the disease. Symptoms from the virus usually emerge between two and 14 days after being bit from an infected mosquito, the Florida

Department of Health said. Most people who come down with the disease don’t show symptoms, while 20 percent get a headache, fatigue or a fever, among other symptoms.

In very rare cases, people with the disease develop a serious illness with people 60 and older most at risk. The symptoms of West Nile Virus and coronavirus are very similar, adding to concerns about how to tell the difference between the two.

There are ways to protect yourself against getting a bite from one of these bugs. The department suggests that people drain standing water to prevent mosquitoes from congregating in areas and to cover the skin with long-sleeved shirts and pants to avoid bites when working outside. Mosquitoes are most active during the evening and early morning hours, and are attracted to the carbon dioxide humans exhale while breathing.

Avoid eating strong foods or drinking beer and be sure to make sure any holes in the house are patched up so mosquitoes can’t get inside. They also recommend using a safe repellent to ward off the bugs that has no more than 10% to 30% DEET.