STRASBURG — Marcy McCann, who contracted West Nile virus in early August after helping a friend clean out her home, initially experienced severe leg cramps and dizziness that quickly led to a seven-day stay in isolation at the hospital.

She now counts her blessings even more than before.

“I was told my new normal was about six months from now,” the Strasburg resident said, sitting comfortably at her dining room table. “I told the doctor, ‘Fat chance for me, buddy. I’m not waiting six months.’”

McCann was the first resident in Virginia to test positive for West Nile virus in 2025, she said.

“When I put that on Facebook, people said, “You’re always first anyway!”

McCann believes that if it weren’t for her son’s girlfriend, Brenda Bly, she might not be here today.

“It’s interesting,” sh

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