Brookhaven resident is Long Island's 11th known West Nile virus patient this year

A Brookhaven resident has tested positive for West Nile virus, marking the 11th case on Long Island this year.

The latest case was reported Monday after a Brookhaven resident over 50 began showing West Nile virus symptoms in late August. The person was hospitalized and is now recovering at home, Suffolk County Health Commissioner Gregson Pigott said in a statement.

So far this year, eight people from Suffolk County have tested positive since Aug. 7, including four from the Town of Islip, three residents in Brookhaven and one person from Babylon. All but one person who tested positive were over the age of 50. There have been three positive cases from Nassau County.

"We suspect there may be more cases of West Nile virus than we are reporting because many people who contract the virus may experience mild symptoms and do not seek medical attention," Pigott said. "There is no treatment for West Nile virus infection, but supportive care may help decrease the risk for developing complications in severe illness."

West Nile is carried by infected mosquitoes and symptoms usually appear one to 14 days after a person is bitten by a mosquito. The health department says mild symptoms may include fever, headache and body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands. More severe symptoms include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. The disease can also be fatal, with people most at risk of severe infection being anyone older than 50 or those with chronic illness or compromised immune systems.

As of Aug. 31, there were 197 West Nile virus-positive mosquito samples detected in Suffolk and 56 in Nassau. For all of 2023, there were 99 in Suffolk and 52 in Nassau, according to the state Health Department.

More people have been infected with West Nile in Suffolk this year than all of last year, though there are far fewer cases in Nassau compared to last year's total. Last season, there were four cases in Suffolk and 16 in Nassau.

Mosquito season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 1. Residents are urged to use bug spray and insect repellent with DEET. Residents should avoid going outside from dusk to dawn when most mosquitoes are active and wear long sleeves and long pants when going out at night. People should also eliminate standing water in flowerpots, clogged gutters, recycle bins, birdbaths, toys and swimming pool and hot tub covers. 

With Lisa Colangelo

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.