First person tests positive for West Nile in Pinellas County

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – A 32-year-old man in Pinellas County recently tested positive for West Nile Virus, the first confirmed human case of the mosquito-borne illness this year.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that so far t date, county analysts have recorded 23 positive tests for West Nile in sentinel chickens, which serve as a first line of defense to determine the prevalence of the virus in Tampa Bay.

According to the Florida Department of Health, many people do not show symptoms of West Nile Virus when infected. Those who do experience ill effects typically suffer from headache, pain and fatigue as a result of West Nile Fever.

In 2015, positive samples from five humans, eight mosquito pools and 76 sentinel chickens have been received from 14 counties in Florida.

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