With two confirmed cases of West Nile Virus in Virginia in August, the mosquito-transmitted disease has officially arrived in the commonwealth. Cases included one each in Virginia’s southwestern and northwestern regions. Both were adults who have fully recovered from the illness.

Virginia typically sees one to five reported cases each year, although there were nine reported cases in 2011—including one death. With our unusually mild winter, mosquitoes have been prevalent this summer.

Mosquitos carry the highest amount of the virus in the early fall—leading to most reports of infection in August and September. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this year the disease is spreading faster than usual in some parts of the country. Most of the 693 human infections reported as of August 14 were in Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and California. With high numbers of cases and ideal environmental conditions for mosquito breeding, this could be the worst West Nile season in Texas history.

Most people who get West Nile don’t get sick. Of those who do, symptoms can include headache, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, sore throat, vomiting, and a rash, and usually last three to six days. Severe symptoms can also include stiff neck, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Luckily once the weather turns colder and mosquitos die off, risks for West Nile decrease.

As always, seek medical attention if you or a family member may have the West Nile virus.