LIVINGSTON — The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed the state’s first human case of West Nile virus for the 2025 mosquito season.
The case involves a person from Livingston Parish who was hospitalized due to complications from the infection. To protect the patient’s privacy, LDH is not releasing any additional details about the individual or their location.
Roughly 1 in 150 people infected with West Nile develop a severe illness that can impact the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. In some cases, lead to paralysis or death.
West Nile virus has been circulating in Louisiana since it was first detected in the state in 2002. So far in 2025, West Nile activity has been reported in 14 parishes. Last year, Louisiana recorded 57 confirmed human cases, including three deaths.
West Nile virus
West Nile virus is spread to people by mosquitoes and can cause mild to severe illnesses. While most people infected with West Nile virus develop no symptoms, about 20% of infected people develop West Nile fever. West Nile fever is a flu-like illness with symptoms that can include fever, headaches, body aches, nausea, and rashes.
A small percentage of infected people develop West Nile neuroinvasive disease, a severe illness that affects the central nervous system and can result in hospitalization or even death. Symptoms can include high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, muscle weakness, numbness, coma, and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks and carry the risk of death or permanent damage.
It is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites to prevent illness. People 55 years of age and older and people with certain medical conditions are at a greater risk for severe disease if they are infected.
Tips to protect yourself against mosquitoes
- Wear EPA-registered mosquito repellent outdoors and always follow label instructions.
- Apply repellent on exposed skin only. Do not apply under clothing or on broken skin.
- Carry a travel-size repellent if you will be outdoors for an extended period.
- Apply sunscreen first, insect repellent second, if you are also wearing sunscreen.
- Make sure windows are tight-fitting and screens are free of holes to keep mosquitoes out.
Tips to protect your home from mosquitoes
- Eliminate standing water around your home, which is where mosquitoes breed.
- Turn over wheelbarrows, plastic wading pools, buckets, trash cans, children’s toys, and anything that can collect standing water.
- Quickly discard or store any containers around your home to avoid accumulating water. Drill holes in standing containers to drain water quickly.
- Clean roof gutters routinely. Clogged gutters can produce millions of mosquitoes annually.
- Take steps to prevent water gardens and ornamental pools from stagnating (and becoming major mosquito producers), such as adding fish or aeration.
- Clean bird baths weekly, as changing the water keeps it from stagnating and becoming a breeding area for mosquitoes.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, especially if they go unused. Be aware that mosquitoes also breed in water accumulated on pool covers.
- Install or repair window screens.
Visit the CDC’s Fight the Bite for more tips on preventing mosquito-borne diseases.
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