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The District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH) in the U.S. announced Tuesday that it has positively identified the West Nile Virus in mosquito samples in the District.
This is the first time this summer the West Nile Virus has been identified in the U.S. capital.
"Residents should take caution as mosquitoes have the potential to transmit West Nile Virus to humans, and it is important for residents to take the necessary steps to avoid contracting the virus," DOH said in a statement.
West Nile Virus is mainly an infection of birds, but on occasions an infected mosquito may spread it to humans. The virus is not transmitted directly from birds to humans and the risk of infection is low. In human infections, the virus generally causes no symptoms, or may cause mild flu-like symptoms.
Senior citizens and people with weak immune systems are considered high risk for suffering the worst from the disease, officials said.
"People with a higher risk of infection should wear long- sleeved shirts, long pants, and apply insect repellent with DEET or other mosquito repellents to exposed skin according to manufacturer's directions. For children, they should use a product with DEET concentration of less than 30 percent," DOH said.
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