By Lisa L. Colangelolisa.colangelo@newsday.com@lisalcolangeloAugust 26, 2026 1:42 pm
The first human West Nile virus case in Nassau County has been reported, making this the second from Long Island this year and the fourth in the state, health officials said Wednesday
A case from Brookhaven was reported last week in a person over the age of 50. No other details were immediately available on the Nassau County case
West Nile virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Some people who contract the virus may not have any symptoms while others have a fever, headache and body aches. Severe illness from the infection can lead to neck stiffness, muscle weakness and inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis
The other cases were from New York City and Onondaga County. West Nile virus was first discovered in the U.S. in Queens in 1999
“Mosquito bites are not only painful, annoying and itchy, they can carry serious illness, such as West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a statement
Nassau County officials didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment
He recommended people use insect repellent and make sure window screens are intact as well as eliminatingquito breeding grounds
The agency said over the last 10 years there have been 574 human cases and 10 deaths from West Nile virus but pointed out most cases are never diagnosed
Suffolk reported five human cases last year while Nassau County had eight
Nationally, there have been 299 West Nile virus disease cases in 2026 across 7 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
While mosquito season runs from June through October, themajority of people diagnosed peaksin late August and early September, the CDC said
People who are have weakened immune systems and some chronic medical conditions are at higher risk of contracting Wets Nile virus along with older people
By Lisa L. Colangelolisa.colangelo@newsday.com@lisalcolangelo
Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment
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