Highlights

• Louisiana confirms first human West Nile virus case of 2025 in Livingston Parish resident who was hospitalized
• West Nile virus activity now confirmed in 14 Louisiana parishes this mosquito season
• 2024 saw 57 confirmed human cases statewide, with three deaths
• People 55 and older face a higher risk of severe complications, including paralysis or death
• EPA-registered mosquito repellent and eliminating standing water remain key prevention measures

Louisiana Reports First Human West Nile Virus Case of 2025 as Activity Spreads Across 14 Parishes

Livingston Parish resident hospitalized with complications as state health officials urge immediate mosquito bite prevention measures

LIVINGSTON PARISH, La. (KPEL News) — If you thought this year's mosquitoes seemed especially aggressive, you might be onto something. Louisiana health officials have just confirmed the state's first human case of West Nile virus for the 2025 mosquito season, and it's a reminder that these buzzing pests can carry more than just an annoying bite.

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, the confirmed case involves a Livingston Parish resident who ended up in the hospital due to complications from the infection.

While officials are keeping the patient's details private, the case serves as an early warning that this could shape up to be another challenging year for mosquito-borne diseases across our state.

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The Virus is Already Making Itself at Home Across Louisiana

This human case didn't come out of nowhere. West Nile virus has already been detected in mosquito populations across 14 parishes throughout Louisiana, which means the conditions are just right for the virus to jump from mosquitoes to people. It's like having unwanted houseguests that keep inviting their friends over.

West Nile has been a permanent resident of Louisiana since it first showed up in 2002, and frankly, it's made itself quite comfortable here. Our warm, humid summers and all that standing water after heavy rains create the perfect mosquito paradise – which unfortunately becomes our problem.

READ MORE: West Nile Virus Detected in New Orleans Mosquitoes

Last year's numbers tell the story of why we need to take this seriously. In 2024, Louisiana recorded 57 confirmed human cases of West Nile virus, and three people didn't make it home. According to earlier health department data, 38 of those cases involved the most severe form that attacks your nervous system.

The timing of this first case fits the usual pattern. West Nile typically starts showing up in people during late June or early July, just when we're all trying to enjoy our summer evenings outdoors.

What West Nile Actually Does to Your Body

Here's the thing about West Nile virus – it's a bit of a lottery, and not the kind you want to win. Most people who get bitten by an infected mosquito won't even know it happened. About 80% of people infected don't develop any symptoms at all.

But for the roughly 20% who do get sick, West Nile starts out feeling like a nasty case of the flu. You're talking fever, headaches, body aches that make you feel like you got hit by a truck, nausea, and sometimes a rash. For most people, these symptoms hang around for a couple of weeks and then clear up.

The real concern comes with what doctors call West Nile neuroinvasive disease, which sounds as scary as it is. This happens to about 1 in 150 infected people, and it's when the virus decides to attack your brain, spinal cord, and nervous system. We're talking high fever, stiff neck, confusion, muscle weakness, numbness, and in the worst cases, coma and paralysis. These symptoms can stick around for weeks and sometimes leave permanent damage.

If you're 55 or older, or if you have health conditions that affect your immune system, your odds of developing the severe form go up significantly. It's not fair, but that's how this virus works.

Louisiana: The All-You-Can-Eat Buffet for Mosquitoes

Let's be honest – Louisiana is basically mosquito heaven. We've got the warm weather, the humidity, the swamps, the frequent afternoon thunderstorms that leave water standing everywhere. It's like we designed this place specifically for mosquitoes to thrive.

West Nile has been circulating here for over two decades now, and it's not going anywhere. Research from the virus's early years in Louisiana showed how quickly it established itself, particularly in places like St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes, with cases typically peaking in July.

The virus travels in a cycle between birds and mosquitoes, and we humans just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when an infected mosquito is looking for a meal. South Louisiana parishes, from the Greater New Orleans area down through Acadiana, see this activity year after year.

Your Game Plan for Staying Bite-Free

Since there's no vaccine or magic cure for West Nile virus, your best bet is making sure you don't get bitten in the first place. Think of it as mosquito warfare, and you want to win.

When you're heading outside, especially during those beautiful summer evenings when mosquitoes are most active, suit up with EPA-registered mosquito repellent. Don't go cheap on this – follow the label directions, apply it to exposed skin only, and avoid putting it under clothes or on cuts and scrapes. If you're planning to be outside for a while, bring a travel-size bottle for touch-ups.

If you're also wearing sunscreen (and you should be), put that on first, then the bug spray. And here's a pro tip from anyone who's spent time in Louisiana summers – when possible, cover up with long sleeves and pants, especially around dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are having their dinner rush.

Make sure your house is buttoned up tight. Check that your windows fit properly and your screens don't have holes that could let mosquitoes crash your indoor party.

Turn Your Property Into a Mosquito No-Fly Zone

The most effective way to cut down on mosquitoes is to eliminate their nurseries – anywhere water can collect and sit around long enough for mosquito eggs to hatch and grow up.

Take a walk around your property and flip over anything that could collect water: wheelbarrows, kiddie pools, buckets, trash cans, toys, flower pot saucers. If you've got containers that need to stay outside, either store them properly or drill some drainage holes so water can't accumulate.

Your gutters deserve special attention because clogged gutters can literally produce millions of mosquitoes every year. Nobody wants to clean gutters, but it's one of the most effective things you can do.

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If you've got a bird bath, change the water weekly – the birds will appreciate fresh water, and you'll prevent it from becoming a mosquito maternity ward. Water gardens and decorative pools need fish or some kind of aeration system to keep the water moving.

Don't forget about your swimming pool if you have one. Keep it clean and chlorinated, and if you're not using it regularly, make sure water isn't collecting on the pool cover.

The good news is that community-wide mosquito control efforts really do work when everyone pitches in. When your neighbors are also eliminating standing water and protecting themselves from bites, it helps bring down the mosquito population for everyone.

Stay indoors and don't get caught by the mosquitoes! Here are some excellent local restaurants where you can avoid the bugs but get a good meal.