A Case of West Nile Disease Discovered in Nimes

The Regional Health Agency (ARS) for PACA has announced that a man carrying the West Nile virus was detected on the 2nd of October in the city of Nimes.

The man has made a full recovery with no further risk to his health. Most people infected with West Nile virus don't experience any signs or symptoms, or may experience only minor ones, such as fever and mild headache, somewhat like the flu or a severe cold. However, there is a risk that it can develop into a life-threatening illness that includes inflammation of the brain.

The last case of the disease was identified in the Var back in 2003. The Regional Health Agency also stated that "since August 2015, several cases of West Nile have also been reported in horses Gard, Hérault and the Bouches-du-Rhône ".

Luckily however, "The men and horses are accidental hosts. They can not transmit the virus."

Advice is, as always, to protect yourself again mosquitoes by using repellent or covering up, especially when doing outdoor activities and around stagnant water.