VALENCIA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) — The New Mexico Department of Health has confirmed the first West Nile virus case of 2025 in the state on Thursday. According to NMDOH, a Valencia County resident was hospitalized with the infection and has since been discharged.
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NMDOH added that the virus has also been confirmed in three horses in New Mexico this year. Two were in Lea County, and the other was in Eddy County. The department offered these preventative measures to reduce one’s risk of infection:
- “Use an approved insect repellent every time you go outside and follow the instructions on the label. EPA-approved repellents are those that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus/para-menthane-diol.
- Wear long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
- Check for water-holding containers where mosquitoes lay their eggs, such as old tires, empty cans, and other unneeded outdoor items that can hold water. Drain the water in birdbaths, wading pools, and saucers under potted plants weekly.
- Make sure rain barrels are tightly screened.
- Keep windows and doors closed if not screened. If you leave your house doors or windows open, make sure they have screens that fit tightly and have no holes.”
Most people infected with West Nile virus experience few symptoms, NMDOH says. Those symptoms can include headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea, and fatigue. “In less than 1% of people a more serious infection can occur with symptoms including neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis,” NMDOH stated in a news release. “There are no medications to treat West Nile fever and no vaccines to prevent infections in humans. People age 50 years and older and those with other health issues are at highest risk of becoming seriously ill or dying when they become infected with the virus.”
Over the past five years, New Mexico has averaged 32 cases of West Nile virus per year. You can find more information on preventing mosquito bites on the CDC website.