The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported the year's first human case of West Nile Virus in the state.
A Washington County resident was diagnosed with the virus during an ordinary blood donation screening. The Blood Center of Wisconsin has since destroyed all of the blood samples from the patient.
After the diagnosis, the patient experienced mild West Nile symptoms.
The DHS said symptoms of the virus can include fever, headache and rash within three to 15 days after contracting the virus.
However, the chances of contracting West Nile are slim and many with the disease do not even experience symptoms, according to the DHS.
Although this is the first human case of West Nile in 2010, it has been reported in three groups of mosquitoes and three dead birds.
The DHS recommends residents take steps toward preventing contraction of the disease, including keeping window screens repaired, using repellant and avoiding the outdoors at dawn and dusk.
