What Are The Symptoms of West Nile Virus?
Lafayette, Louisiana (KMDL) - On June 25, 2025, The Louisiana Department of Health announced the first confirmed case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the State in Livingston Parish.
While details of the patient remain scarce due to privacy laws, it has been reported the person was hospitalized due to complications from the infection.
Detection of the West Nile Virus in Louisiana isn't anything new, it's been officially confirmed in Louisiana every year since 2001 according to the LDH.
This got me thinking...how do you know if you have West Nile?
Are there symptoms you need to aware of?
There are, so let's take a look at them...
Can I Catch West Nile From Someone Who Is Infected?
The short answer is no. You cannot catch West Nile Virus from another person who is infected.
West Nile Virus is no spread through person to person, touching, coughing, or sneezing, through food or water, or from pets or other animals, except infected mosquitoes.
However, in some rare cases, WNV can be spread from mother to baby either during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding.
The most common way people become infected with West Nile Virus is from a mosquito bite.
Although also rare, people can be infected from blood transfusions or organ transplants.
What Are The Symptoms Of West Nile Virus?
The interesting thing is most people infected with West Nile don't have any symptoms.
From ldh.la.gov -
West Nile virus is spread to people by mosquitoes and can cause mild to severe illnesses.
While most people infected with West Nile virus develop no symptoms, about 20% of infected people develop West Nile fever.
However, there are symptoms to be aware of.
If you do develop symptoms from bite of a mosquito infected with West Nile Virus, they typically develop 2 to 14 days after being bitten.
West Nile Symptoms include:
Fever
Headache
Body aches
Joint pain
Vomiting or diarrhea
Rash
Fatigue or weakness that can last for weeks after being infected.
READ MORE: Louisiana Bracing for a Surge of Mosquitoes, Ants, and Roaches
In very rare cases of West Nile Virus infection, like less than 1%, infection can lead to neuroinvasives disease like meningitis or encephalitis.
Severe illness is more common in people over 60.
According to the Louisiana Department of Health, symptoms of severe West Nile Virus illness include high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation or confusion, tremors or convulsions, paralysis, and in the most rare and severe cases, a victim can become comatose.
READ MORE: 7 Plants Louisiana Needs to Keep Mosquitoes Away This Summer
When To See A Doctor
If you know you've recently been bitten by a mosquito and think you might be displaying symptoms of WNV, you should see a doctor to get tested if you experience:
Confusion
Seizures
Muscle weakness
High fever with stiff neck
To read more, head over to ldh.la.gov.
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