I wouldn’t say that it’s *** fear, but it’s definitely, I feel like I need to protect myself *** little bit more. Life isn’t what it used to be since her West Nile diagnosis in 2022, but Lisa Montes is making the most of every day. I was here hanging out with the family, and we decided to go out in the backyard in the evening. They were outside for 15 minutes. I was the only one that contracted the virus. The symptoms started slowly. By late summer, what started as *** fever and fatigue had morphed into severe migraines, dizziness, and *** partial loss of hearing. I could not drive. It was really hard for me to just walk around the house, could not walk up and down stairs by myself. There have been 9 human cases of West Nile virus spread across 8 counties this year. But of course the ones that we’re hearing about in the news are mosquitoes that probably wouldn’t. Even attack me if I put my hand in their cage like this. They’re mosquitoes that tend to feed on birds. MSU Denver biology professor Robert Hancock says even though 2025 is starting to look scary, it’s not 2023 scary. What we are seeing is increased numbers of positive mosquito pools. That’s our measure of not how many mosquitoes there are, but What proportion of those mosquitoes could be carrying West Nile virus. His advice, if you think you may have it, get care quickly. It’s worth it to, to talk about it with your doctor, to ask questions, to get tested and rule it out.
Woman who had West Nile virus describes her symptoms
In the United States, there have been 45 human cases of West Nile virus spread across 15 states this year.
Life has changed a lot since Lisa Montez’s West Nile virus diagnosis in 2022, but she hasn’t forgotten it.“That day, I was here hanging out with the family, and we decided to go out in the backyard in the evening.”They were outside for 15 minutes, but it was long enough for a mosquito to infect her with the virus.“It was a little bit shocking for me because even though there were several of us there, I was the only one that contracted the virus.”She says the symptoms started slowly. By late summer, what started as fever and fatigue had morphed into severe migraines, dizziness and a partial loss of hearing.”It was fall turning into winter, and I could not drive. It was really hard for me to just walk around the house, could not walk up and down the stairs by myself.”In the United States, there have been 45 human cases of West Nile virus spread across 15 states this year.While putting his hand in a cage full of mosquitoes, MSU Denver biology professor Robert Hancock said there are increased numbers of positive mosquito pools.”It’s our measure of not how many mosquitoes there are, but what proportion of mosquitoes could be carrying West Nile virus.”His brother is a survivor of West Nile virus meningoencephalitis, inflammation of the brain and its surrounding membranes.“He started with urgent care, and very quickly, within hours, he was intubated in a critical care unit in Phoenix, Arizona.”According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 8 in 10 people with WNV will have no symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected with the virus develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. And less than 1% will develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system.Hancock’s advice, if you think you might have it, is to get care quickly.Montez added, “It’s worth it to talk about it with your doctor, to ask questions, to get tested and rule it out.”
Life has changed a lot since Lisa Montez’s West Nile virus diagnosis in 2022, but she hasn’t forgotten it.
“That day, I was here hanging out with the family, and we decided to go out in the backyard in the evening.”
They were outside for 15 minutes, but it was long enough for a mosquito to infect her with the virus.
“It was a little bit shocking for me because even though there were several of us there, I was the only one that contracted the virus.”
She says the symptoms started slowly. By late summer, what started as fever and fatigue had morphed into severe migraines, dizziness and a partial loss of hearing.
“It was fall turning into winter, and I could not drive. It was really hard for me to just walk around the house, could not walk up and down the stairs by myself.”
In the United States, there have been 45 human cases of West Nile virus spread across 15 states this year.
While putting his hand in a cage full of mosquitoes, MSU Denver biology professor Robert Hancock said there are increased numbers of positive mosquito pools.
“It’s our measure of not how many mosquitoes there are, but what proportion of mosquitoes could be carrying West Nile virus.”
His brother is a survivor of West Nile virus meningoencephalitis, inflammation of the brain and its surrounding membranes.
“He started with urgent care, and very quickly, within hours, he was intubated in a critical care unit in Phoenix, Arizona.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 8 in 10 people with WNV will have no symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected with the virus develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. And less than 1% will develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system.
Hancock’s advice, if you think you might have it, is to get care quickly.
Montez added, “It’s worth it to talk about it with your doctor, to ask questions, to get tested and rule it out.”
