VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – The family of John Veira, 67, said it’s been a five-week battle with the West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne disease that can result in severe symptoms in rare cases.
Veira has spent most of those five weeks in the hospital. His family said he has had memory loss and been unable to walk.
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“It almost killed me,” Veira said.
The Florida Department of Health released a health alert following Veira’s West Nile diagnosis. Despite Veira being the only confirmed human case of West Nile in Volusia County, it poses a risk to infect many more.
Jonathon Veira said his father loved to do yard work and was often outside their DeLand home.
“We didn’t know what he could do, if he could get better, and the progress has been so slow,” Veira’s daughter-in-law, Chelsea Veira, said.
The family said Veira is learning how to talk and walk again.
Veira said he wants others to see this as a warning so that they don’t get infected as well.
“West Nile is alive. People think it ain’t, but it’s out there, and if you are not careful, you will end up like me.”
The family has setup a fundraising page for anyone who wants to help.
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