Idaho’s first case of West Nile Virus infection this year has been confirmed in Elmore County.
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West Nile can be fatal, but most people infected with the mosquito-borne virus won’t get sick. People over 50 years of age and those with certain medical conditions are at increased risk of serious complications from West Nile, authorities said. Only about one in five people infected with West Nile will actually develop symptoms. In addition, 764 dead birds from 26 counties have tested positive for the virus in 2016, and 1,487 mosquito samples from 30 counties have also tested positive.
It is extremely unusual for neither to have shown up in any mosquitoes, according to data that have been collected by the Department of Health and Human Services.
To avoid mosquitoes that carry the virus, the health department cautions the public to use approved insect repellent when outside, regularly drain standing water and wear long sleeves and trousers at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. Zika virus is spread primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, and possibly the Aedes albopictus mosquito. Among those who become ill, symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes. DEM issues weekly advisories on test results from late June through September, with additional reports as necessary. Keep mosquitoes away by eliminating standing water around your property.
“It’s important to protect yourself from mosquito bites”, Maxwell said.
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There is a West Nile virus vaccine available for horses, but there is no vaccine for humans. The use of repellent containing DEET can help deter mosquitoes from biting. The symptoms in those cases may include high fever, stiffness in the neck, headaches, disorientation, seizures, paralysis and other problems.
