Of the 60 human cases reported this year, 20 percent have developed the more severe form of West Nile virus disease that causes neurologic infection. Approximately 25% of people develop the West Nile fever while less than 1% develop a severe neuro-invasive disease. Those most at risk for serious neurological illness from the sometimes fatal diseases are the elderly and very young, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems.
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The LaSalle County Health Department has received confirmation that mosquitoes from Peru have tested positive for the West Nile Virus.
The department reports West Nile activity has increased since August.
Owners of horses in Malheur County are urged by health officials to have their horses vaccinated, which takes two doses to be followed up by an annual booster.
Of the five cases, four were found in the South Zone while one was found in the Calgary Zone.
“We’re not sure why that is”, Page said. Now 63, she is worn out, off balance and walks with a cane half the time. There have been 61 confirmed cases of West Nile in the past decade, but that has dropped to one or two cases in each of the past few years.
“Despite cooler overnight temperatures the mosquito season isn’t over”, said Piccinin.
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Mosquitoes have been found to be breeding in water in the arroyos and there were unusually high mosquito counts in the neighborhood past year, said Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control District vector ecologist Michelle Brown.
