When a Mosquito Bite Changes Everything: A Personal West Nile Story

West Nile virus is often framed as a seasonal nuisance rather than a serious public health threat. For Tom Baldwin, that perception changed overnight. In August 2024, the Atlanta, Georgia, resident developed what initially felt like routine back pain. Within days, he was hospitalized, disoriented, and fighting a neuroinvasive infection that would alter his life.

In this interview with Infection Control Today^® (ICT^®), Baldwin and Shawn Shepherd, the multimedia producer, located near Atlanta, who created a short documentary about him, highlight Baldwin’s medical journey and the under-discussed, very real risks of severe, life-altering consequences from contracting West Nile virus.

“I became very ill, and the next several days are just a blur,” Baldwin recalled. “I had confusion and mental disorientation. They kept waking me up asking what year it was and where I was.”

After extensive testing, a lumbar puncture confirmed West Nile virus. Baldwin spent 2 weeks in the hospital, followed by 3 weeks in a rehabilitation facility. He returned home weak, unable to walk, and requiring a hospital bed in his dining room. “I lost between 30 and 40 pounds from severe atrophy,” he said. “I was sleeping 14 hours a day just trying to get through.”

Baldwin’s story became the focus of a short, hard-hitting documentary produced by Shepherd. He learned of Baldwin’s condition through a family connection and was struck by how little public attention severe West Nile cases receive.

“You hear news stories that West Nile [virus] was detected in mosquitoes,” Shepherd said. “But knowing someone who went from fully functional to immobilized really shook me.”

Initially, Baldwin was hesitant to participate. “This was way outside my comfort zone,” he said. “But I realized that if this could happen to me, maybe there was a story that needed to be told.”

The documentary centers on Baldwin’s recovery, which remains ongoing more than a year later. He now uses ankle foot orthoses, or AFOs, and a rolling walker to take steps. His right leg has regained strength, but his left side continues to lag behind. “Until you can lift your foot, you really cannot walk unassisted,” he explained. “But I am encouraged. I am getting stronger.”

Baldwin’s determination is central to the film. “I just want to walk,” he said. “I do not need to do everything I did before. I want to be able to travel and get out there again.”

Beyond the personal toll, the interview highlighted broader infection prevention implications. Shepherd noted that during 2024, Georgia and several other states saw spikes in neuroinvasive West Nile cases. “CDC data show nearly 2,000 reported cases across 45 states, with close to 1,300 neuroinvasive infections,” he said. “Those are people dealing with paralysis, long hospital stays, or worse.”

Baldwin expressed frustration with how statistics are often presented. “When they give numbers, it almost makes me mad,” he said. “Those are just the reported cases. The only ones counted are the very serious ones like mine.”

The conversation also underscored the importance of prevention measures, including mosquito control, personal protective behaviors, and health care system safeguards. Shepherd emphasized blood and organ screening as a critical but underdiscussed issue. “If infected blood is transfused, that is another pathway,” he said. “Infection preventionists need to be thinking about seasonal risk.”

Climate trends further complicate the picture. Warmer temperatures extend mosquito seasons and allow vectors to persist longer. “In Atlanta, it can stay warm until January,” Shepherd noted. “The insects do not die off the way they used to.”

For Baldwin, the goal of sharing his experience is simple. “People are dying from this,” he said. “If telling my story makes someone use insect repellent or take prevention seriously, then it is worth it.”

As vector-borne diseases expand their geographic reach, Baldwin’s experience serves as a reminder that West Nile virus is not a mild inconvenience. It is a life-altering infection that demands greater awareness, preparedness, and prevention across health care and public health systems.

The documentary can be found here.