Walton County health department confirms locally acquired case of West Nile virus

The Florida Department of Health in Walton County confirmed a human case of locally acquired West Nile virus disease Friday and issued a mosquito-borne illness advisory for the area.

• The department said it is coordinating surveillance and prevention efforts with South Walton Mosquito Control, including ground treatment, spraying and emptying standing water in the area where the case was identified.

The advisory did not identify the patient or provide details about the severity of the illness.

DOH-Walton urged residents to take basic precautions to avoid mosquito bites, including using insect repellent and eliminating standing water around homes.

The state health department conducts ongoing surveillance for several mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya and dengue. Residents are encouraged to report dead birds to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.