Two individuals have been treated for the West Nile Virus at a hospital in Charleston County.
The hospital has two confirmed cases, according to Robert Briggs, the spokesperson for Roper St. Francis.
“They were discharged and are receiving rehabilitation at our facilities,” Briggs said.
West Nile cannot be prevented through vaccines, nor can it be treated with medicines.
West Nile Virus – Now 8 confirmed cases in S.C.
As of Thursday, the South Carolina Department of Public Health reported a total of eight confirmed cases throughout the state. However, there is currently no information available regarding the specific distribution of these cases by county. Additionally, it is uncertain whether the two cases confirmed by Roper St. Francis in Charleston County are included in the overall count provided by the health department.
The state health department recommends that individuals who need to be outdoors in areas with active mosquitoes should take measures to prevent mosquito bites. These measures include wearing long sleeves and pants, as well as applying mosquito repellent to both skin and clothing.
West Nile virus is typically transmitted by mosquitoes that are infected. While the majority of individuals do not exhibit symptoms, approximately 20% may develop fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A serious, and occasionally fatal, illness can occur in roughly 1 out of every 150 infected individuals.