Updated October 6, 2026, 2:32 p.m. ET
A 13-year-old boy was hospitalized with a severe case of West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne disease, with no approved vaccine to prevent the disease or specific medication to treat it.
Joseph Vazquez, who is being treated at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, was diagnosed with a “rare and devastating case of West Nile virus with complications involving transverse myelitis,” according to a GoFundMe page set up for his medical expenses. His family, including his mother Maria Salazar, confirmed the news to NBC Los Angeles and KTLA 5. USA TODAY has reached out for comment.
Transverse myelitis is a rare neurological disease caused by inflammation of the spinal cord, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Vazquez was a healthy teenager in Long Beach, California, before mosquito bites sent him to the hospital, where he lost the use of his legs, bladder and bowel control, and suffered “excruciating nerve pain from his lower back to his feet,” according to the donation page.
“Joseph faces challenges that no 13-year-old should ever have to face,” his family wrote on the page. “Joseph’s experience opened our family’s eyes to how quickly a mosquito-borne illness can become a serious medical emergency.”
Here’s what to do now about the disease.
West Nile Virus Symptoms
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 80% of people bitten by a West Nile mosquito develop no symptoms. Of those who do, most suffer from what’s called “West Nile fever,” a flu-like illness that can cause fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, or swollen lymph nodes.
In rare neuroinvasive cases, the virus can affect the central nervous system and cause serious conditions such as meningitis or encephalitis. Symptoms may include high fever, neck stiffness, confusion, disorientation, muscle weakness, numbness, paralysis, vision loss, coma, or death. The CDC estimates that only 1% of people who contract West Nile have severe neuroinvasive disease.
Vazquez’s symptoms began with a rash all over his body, mild headaches, increasing leg pain and a mild fever, his family said. Then they continued to get worse, until he lost all mobility in his legs. While in hospital, he also developed abdominal pain, neck stiffness and loss of bladder and bowel control, the donation page adds.
“We never imagined that something that started with what seemed like minor symptoms could change Joseph’s life so quickly,” his family wrote, urging people to share the fundraiser to “teach families about the dangerous symptoms to watch out for if they ever find themselves in a similar situation.”
West Nile Virus Treatment
Since there is no specific treatment for West Nile virus, most options are supportive measures.
For mild illnesses, the CDC says patients can rest, stay hydrated, and take over-the-counter medications for fever, pain, and headache.
For more severe cases, additional support such as close monitoring, breathing machines and specific therapies may be necessary.
As with other infectious diseases, those most at risk are the elderly (especially those over 60), those with weakened immune systems, and people with underlying chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease.
Preventing West Nile
There are no vaccines or medications approved to prevent West Nile virus in humans, so prevention strategies are the best tool. Dr. Jorge Parada, medical advisor to the National Pest Management Association, previously told USA TODAY the following:
- Use an EPA-registered insect repellent. Products containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, and IR3535 have all been shown to be effective when used according to label directions.
- Mosquitoes can breed in as little as half an inch of standing water, so remove water from around your property. This means regularly emptying water from flower pots, birdbaths, buckets, tires, toys, pet bowls and other containers. Don’t forget to check and clean gutters, which are an often-overlooked source of standing water.
- If mosquitoes become a persistent problem, contact a qualified pest control professional. They can help identify potential breeding sites and recommend a targeted management plan.
Contributor: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY
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