“Most people are asymptomatic”: 1 case of West Nile virus in Duval, 1 case in St. Johns – 104.5 WOKV

St. Johns County, Florida – The mosquito population in Northeast Florida is increasing, especially since Hurricane Debby hit our area.

Mosquitoes are notoriously a nuisance, but the insects transmit various pathogens. The three diseases and parasites Floridians should be aware of are West Nile virus, Heartworm in dogsAnd malariaAll three are related to mosquitoes.

“When we say they are the deadliest animal, the truth is that they transmit malaria,” said Dr. Whitney Qualls. “Globally, malaria kills more people than any other disease.”

Qualls is the deputy director of the Anastasia Mosquito Control District in St. Johns County. She has a doctorate in entomology and has specialized in mosquitoes throughout her career.

Read: Dr. Anthony Fauci was diagnosed with West Nile virus

“In St. Johns County, one of our sentinel animals has already been diagnosed with West Nile virus. We use that information to implement control measures,” Qualls said. “We usually control the animals by ground. We have trucks that treat the animals in what we call ultra-low-volume applications, or we can treat the animals by air because we have helicopters.”

Currently, both Duval County and Nassau County are under a mosquito-borne disease alert, according to the Florida Department of Health. The 2024 Mosquito-Borne Disease Activity Tracker showed one case of a person with West Nile virus in Duval County reported in July. There have been no human cases of the virus in any of our other Northeast Florida counties.

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“Most people are asymptomatic,” Qualls said. “They don't show symptoms, so West Nile virus is really severely underreported.”

Qualls said if a person has symptoms, it is a flu-like illness.

She said it's important to protect and prevent. Get your pets vaccinated and talk to your vet about the right medication to protect against heartworms.

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“If you're outdoors during peak mosquito activity times, which are dusk or dawn, wear long sleeves or long pants or use insect repellent,” Qualls advises. “Drain any standing water you find in and around your home, such as in a saucer, dog bowl or birdbaths – make sure you change the water every few days.”

Please also visit the Disease vector awareness center in St. Augustine. It is a free educational center open to the public. It offers kid-friendly games and activities and can help families learn how to protect their homes and themselves.

For questions and treatments please contact Anastasia Mosquito Control District at (904) 471-3107.

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