West Nile virus has infected people in Florida (and Dr. Fauci). Is it in your county?

It's peak season for West Nile virus, and five human cases have been documented in Florida so far this year.

Since March, cases have been documented in Collier, Duval, Marion, Orange and Walton counties, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Three cases occurred in July, one in March and one in August, according to department data. Historically, most human cases of West Nile occur in August, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control .

West Nile is a mosquito-borne disease that is often harmless but can be deadly in rare cases. From 2001 to 2023, there have been 481 reported cases of West Nile in Florida.

This year, there have been a total of 240 human cases of West Nile in 31 states as of Aug. 20, according to the CDC. Texas leads the country with 37 cases.

Recently, Dr. Anthony Fauci , the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was hospitalized for six days with a case of West Nile.

Fauci, 83, is recovering at home and expected to make a full recovery.

What is West Nile virus?

West Nile is a mosquito-borne illness that belongs to a group of viruses called flaviviruses, according to the CDC.

It first appeared in the United States in 1999 in New York and reached Florida in 2001, according to DOH.

It's mostly spread between people and birds — since 1999, the virus has been detected in 300 species of dead birds. But in humans, the virus cannot replicate enough in the bloodstream, therefore people cannot pass the virus on to other mosquitoes.

Most people don't feel sick if infected with West Nile, but 1 in 5 will develop a fever or other symptoms, according to the CDC. About 1 in 150 will develop serious symptoms which can sometimes be fatal.

What are the signs or symptoms of West Nile and how do you treat it?

West Nile can cause a fever and, more seriously, some neurological diseases. The incubation period is usually two to six days but can be two to 14 days and can last for several weeks for immunocompromised people.

About 70% to 80% of cases in humans are symptom-free, but the most common ones are fever, headache, weakness, muscle aches and joint stiffness. Some experience an upset stomach or a rash as well. Less than 1% of people who become sick with West Nile experience serious illness, like meningitis (inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord) or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), according to the CDC.

There's no specific treatment for West Nile, just the treatment of symptoms.

How do you prevent West Nile virus?

The best way to prevent West Nile is to prevent mosquitoes. And to protect yourself from mosquitoes, the state recommends to "drain and cover."

Draining water prevents mosquitoes from reproducing. The state health department recommends to dump any standing water in garbage cans, gutters, flower pots, toys and buckets or whatever can hold pooled rain or sprinkler water.

Bird baths and outdoor water bowls for pets should be emptied and cleaned at least twice a week, according to FDOH.

Tarps over boats or cars should fit correctly and not collect any pooled rainwater, and pools should be maintained and appropriately chlorinated. Make sure to empty out kiddie pools after each use.

Does bug repellant prevent mosquito bites?

As for mosquito repellant, DOH recommends using products with up to 30 percent DEET. DEET is the active ingredient in many repellant products and is widely used to prevent mosquito and tick bites and can protect someone from West Nile, Zika, malaria, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

DEET is not for everyone, however. Children under 2 months should not use a repellant with DEET, and children under 3 should not use a repellant that contains oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) and para-menthane-diol (PMD).

Spray the repellant on your skin and clothing, but not under clothing. The CDC recommends wearing loose-fitting long sleeve shirts and pants to prevent mosquito bites.

The EPA has a search tool to find the best repellant for you.

Ana Goñi-Lessan , state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: West Nile virus has infected people in Florida (and Dr. Fauci). Is it in your county?