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New Urgent Advisory Issued for Disney World Area in Wake of Hurricane Milton

A vibrant sunset behind the entrance to Walt Disney World in Florida.
Credit: Inside the Magic

A new health advisory has been issued for Orange County, Central Florida, by the Health Department.

Florida Sign

Credit: Canva

A week after Hurricane Milton battered Florida, just two weeks after Hurricane Helene tore through the state and left destruction in its wake, the Health Department of Orange County has issued a health advisory for all residents and tourists to be aware and take preventative action against the spread of the West Nile Virus.

“A case of West Nile Virus was confirmed in Orange County, and officials are warning residents to watch out for mosquitoes and help eliminate breeding sites at their homes,” writes Click Orlando.

Close-up of a mosquito standing on a surface.

Credit: CDC

The locally acquired case of the West Nile Virus is thought to have stemmed from a mosquito bite. The Health Department is urging those in Orange County to dispose of stagnant water around their homes.

“Orange County Mosquito Control said Hurricane Milton left flooding in parts of the county,” the report continued. “Heavy rain may have also filled buckets, planters, bird feeders, and more. All of those can be mosquito breeding grounds.”

Officials are advising Orange County residents to be cautious when emptying small bodies of standing water by covering exposed skin and wearing mosquito repellant.

Wilderness Explorers at Walt Disney World Resort

Credit: Disney

According to Florida Health, West Nile Virus “is characterized by headache, fever, pain, and fatigue.” In more extreme cases, West Nile Virus can become neuroinvasive, “which may involve meningitis and encephalitis and can cause irreversible neurological damage, paralysis, coma, or death,” the government website states.

Orange County, which houses the Walt Disney World Resort along with Osceola County, is home to almost 1.5 million Americans, who, according to this new advisory, should now exercise caution.

As for those in Walt Disney World, the resort is known for being surprisingly mosquito-free. The answer to why seemingly lies in the fact that all water at the resort is moving, and the park is constructed in a way that limits the chance of water collecting in places that may provide apt breeding grounds for the insects.

Cinderella Castle at night

Credit: Disney

It was only a week ago that the Category 3 storm, Hurricane Milton, tore across Florida. Its descent onto the Sunshine State came just two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the area, claiming hundreds of lives.

As a result of Hurricane Milton’s path and severity—the storm reached Category 5 status shortly before making landfall—and the risk to life, the parks in Central Florida, including Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort, closed their gates.

For Disney World, the closure lasted Wednesday afternoon through Friday morning, with guests remaining inside their resort hotels.

How do you feel about this new health advisory?

About Thomas Hitchen

When he’s not thinking about the Magic Kingdom, Thomas is usually reading a book, becoming desperately obsessed with fictional characters, or baking something delicious (his favorite is chocolate cake -- to bake and to eat). He's a dreamer and grew up on Mulan saving the world, Jim Hawkins soaring through the stars, and Padmé Amidala fighting a Nexu. At the Parks, he loves to ride Everest, stroll down Main Street with an overstuffed pin lanyard around his neck, and eat as many Mickey-shaped ice creams as possible. His favorite character is Han Solo (yes, he did shoot first), and his favorite TV show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer except when it's One Tree Hill. He loves sandy beach walks, forest hikes, and foodie days out in the Big City. Thomas lives in England, UK, with his fiancée, baby, and their dog, a Border Collie called Luna.

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