Fourth case of West Nile virus found in Palm Beach County

Health officials have detected a fourth case of West Nile virus in Palm Beach County since September.

The virus was detected most recently in sentinel chickens in Delray Beach, Tim O’Connor, spokesman for the Florida Department of Health for Palm Beach County, said Wednesday. It previously was detected this month in Belle Glade and Pahokee, and in late September in the Jupiter Farms area.

West Nile is a mosquito-borne disease that can result in fever, headaches, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue and skin rashes. Prior to September, the most recent case involving a person contracting West Nile in Palm Beach County was in 2011.

To limit the risk of exposure, health department officials are asking residents to take precautions against mosquito bites. This includes using air conditioning to cool buildings instead of of leaving doors and windows open.

Those going outdoors should use an insect repellent that contains DEET or Picardin, and wear lightweight, long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks.

The health department routinely monitors for the presence of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile, Zika, Chikungunya and St. Louis Encephalitis.

Four cases of Zika have been reported in Palm Beach County this year, all involving involving people who visited Zika-affected countries in places such as South American and the Caribbean.

The health department strategically places sentinel chicken flocks from Delray Beach to Jupiter, as well as in Belle Glade and Pahokee. The chickens do not contract the disease but can carry the virus in their blood.