West Nile Virus Reported in State of Piauí, Brazil

The Fundación Municipal de Salud in the capital city of Teresina has reported the 4th case of West Nile Fever infection in a patient who visited the municipalities of Cabeceiras and Lagoa Alegre in the weeks prior to the onset of illness. There was no history of travel outside the country. These sporadic cases indicate that the virus is present in local mosquitoes, but the transmission is occurring at a low level.

Advice

Travellers who plan to spend a lot of time outdoors or who will be in areas with a lot of mosquitoes are at increased risk of exposure to West Nile Virus. The risk of exposure for the general traveller is quite low. However, in a small number of infected people, West Nile virus can cause serious neurological illness, including death. Since there is no vaccine or treatment for West Nile fever, travellers to areas where this virus has been found can reduce their risk of exposure by taking all necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites.