Most people with the virus do not display symptoms.
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The samples were confirmed to be West Nile Virus-positive by the lab at the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services Wednesday.
Welch says West Nile is their main concern.
The most effective way to avoid the disease is to prevent mosquito bites, Borenstein said.
In 2016, West Nile virus has been detected in the following counties: Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Cambria, Centre, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Indiana, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Warren, and York.
Contact the LaSalle County Health Department at 815-433-3366, the Bureau County Health Department at 815-872-5091 and the Putnam County Health Department at 815-925-7326.
There is no treatment for the virus, but you can reduce your risk of exposure by eliminating common areas where mosquitoes breed and limiting your time outdoors around dawn and dusk, when the insects are most active.
Fix or replace any screens in your home that are broken or have holes.
The virus is typically transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. “Since the virus also has the potential to be passed on to others through transfusions, all donated blood is checked for the virus before being used”, say SLO County Public Health Department officials.
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It’s known 80 percent of people infected with the virus will not show any symptoms.
