The Arkansas Department of Health is warning residents to safeguard against the spread of a mosquito-borne illness.
The department says eight cases of West Nile virus have been detected in residents of five Arkansas counties, leading to one death.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mississippi, Faulkner, Dallas and Craighead counties have each reported one case, while four cases have been identified in Pulaski County.
The majority of people infected with West Nile do not show symptoms. Mild illness can occur in up to 20% of people infected with the virus, with symptoms like fever, headache, nausea and vomiting.
People over the age of 50 or those with compromised immune systems are more likely to develop severe symptoms. Diagnoses are typically made through a blood test or spinal tap procedure.
West Nile was first identified in the U.S. in 1999, and recognized in Arkansas in 2002. Nearly 13,000 people have had serious illness related to West Nile in the U.S. since it was first identified, with more than 1,200 deaths.
More information is online at the Arkansas Department of Health website.
