8/8/2024

UPPER MICHIGAN / WISC – Earlier this week information was released from Marquette County indicating a crow there has tested positive for the West Nile Virus.  Yesterday Health Department Officials in the Central U.P. said crows from Luce County and Delta County have now also tested positive for the Virus and that the virus is likely present throughout the entire U.P.  In Humans symptoms of the West Nile Virus occur 3-15 days after becoming infected from a mosquito bite and include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes skin rash and/or swollen glands.  In Wisconsin one person and one bird have tested positive for West Nile virus, marking the first infections in Wisconsin this year.  The person is a healthy blood donor from Washington County, whose blood screened positive for the virus. However, this is not considered a confirmed case because the person did not develop any symptoms.  A dead bird from Chippewa County also tested positive for the virus.  Mosquito-borne illness will continue to be a risk until late fall when nighttime temperatures consistently fall below freezing.