Kent County resident is Michigan’s first West Nile virus death of 2025

• The Michigan Division of Well being and Human Companies mentioned August 21, that it confirmed six instances of West Nile virus in six provinces to date in 2025.
• One one who lived in Kent County died in August 2025 in Michigan on the West Nile virus.
• Well being officers urge Michiganders to take precautions to guard themselves in opposition to mosquito bites, which might convey West -Nijl and different viruses.

A resident of Kent County died on the Western Nile virus, which marks the primary dying in Michigan in 2025 of the virus transferred by Muggen, the Ministry of Well being and Human Companies confirmed on August 21.

The one who was an grownup and had underlying medical problems lived about half a mile from a website the place contaminated mosquitoes have been recognized, reported De Kent County Well being Division.

West -thigh virus goes from contaminated birds to folks by means of the chunk of mosquitoes. It doesn’t trigger signs for most individuals, the American centers for disease control and prevention Reviews. Nonetheless:

• For 1 in 5 which can be contaminated with the West -Nijl virus, signs might embody fever, headache and physique ache.
• For about 1 in 150 people who find themselves contaminated, the West -Nijl virus may cause extreme illness, together with mind irritation and swelling, which is typically deadly.

Those that are almost definitely to expertise debilitating illness or die from the virus are folks older than 50 and people with oppressed immune system, in response to the CDC.

“Our deepest condolences go to the household’s household and family members,” mentioned Brendan Earl, who supervised Sanitarian within the well being division, in a press release. He supervises his mosquito monitoring staff, which screens native mosquitoes and exams for infections of West -Nijl virus, Jap Equine Encephalitis (Eee), Jamestown Canyon Virus, La Crosse Virus and St. Louis Encephalitis.

This summer season this summer season has recognized West Nile virus in three mosquito samples this summer season this summer season: 49507 (Grand Rapids), 49544 (Walker) and 49525 (Plainfield Township).

“This tragic consequence is a reminiscence that mosquitoes are energetic in our space and are capable of unfold critical sickness. Prevention stays our greatest safety,” Earl mentioned.

Extra: 5 folks in Michigan have confirmed the West -Nijl virus

From August 21, the West -Nile virus can be confirmed in folks from the provinces of Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Sanilac and Emmet, mentioned spokesperson Lynn Sutfin of the State. This this 12 months brings the variety of confirmed human instances of the virus transferred by mosquitoes to 6 in Michigan.

Final 12 months in Michigan, 4 folks died on the West -Virus, Sutfin mentioned.

Avoiding mosquito bites and stopping mosquitoes to breed within the neighborhood of your own home are among the many finest types of safety in opposition to the Western Nile virus and different ailments transferred by mosquitoes, corresponding to Jap Equine encephalitis and Jamestown Canyon virus, the CDC says.

It recommends:

• Keep away from being exterior at nightfall and daybreak, when mosquitoes are probably the most energetic.
• Once you go exterior, you put on gentle, free clothes that utterly covers the legs and arms. Seek for clothes and gear handled with permethrin, an insecticide.
• A EPA-registered insect repellent With one of many following energetic elements: DEET, Picaridine, IR3535, Oil of Citroen Eucalyptus or Para-Medhane-Diol because the energetic ingredient.
• Protecting holes in screens in doorways or home windows to maintain mosquitoes out of the home.

Furthermore, the CDC suggests that individuals ought to attempt to eradicate the breeding of mosquitoes by eradicating stagnant water round their homes. Some strategies:

• Empty containers that may accumulate water, corresponding to tires, buckets, planters, toys, swimming swimming pools, chicken baths, pets, flower pots and waste containers.
• Clear roof gutters.
• Deal with stagnant water in retention ponds or drainageed with a mosquito larvicide.

Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to The Detroit Free Press.