New York -- The Health Department Friday confirmed the season’s first human case of West Nile virus in a 41-year-old Brooklyn woman.

So far this season, the Health Department has identified WNV in 139 mosquito pools citywide – eastern Queens, southeastern Bronx and Staten Island have had significant activity. WNV has been detected in all five boroughs. The agency is continuing mosquito surveillance, responding to standing water complaints, and conducting larviciding and spraying as needed. Information on upcoming sprayings is available online at www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/wnv/wnvspray.shtml.

The patient began feeling ill in mid-August. Her symptoms included fever, headache, fatigue, weakness and muscle pain. She was hospitalized on August 25th, and is now home recovering.  Because she traveled outside of New York City during the two weeks preceding her illness, she may have been exposed to WNV either in New York City, or elsewhere.