HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — At least one person has acquired West Nile virus in Hillsborough County, according to the health department.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people infected with West Nile do not develop symptoms. Those who do may experience headaches, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash.
This comes as officials have been monitoring several different mosquito-borne illnesses throughout the Tampa Bay area. Just last month, Pinellas County saw an increase in West Nile virus cases. There's also been an uptick in dengue fever cases across the state, including three in Hillsborough County.
After widespread flooding during Hurricane Milton created ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed, Hillsborough County officials have been spraying insecticide in an attempt to get the insects under control.
As the mosquito-borne illness alert continues, people are asked to protect themselves from insect bites by wearing repellent, getting rid of standing water and using screens on open windows and doors.
