UINTAH BASIN, Utah, July 20, 2020 (Gephardt Daily) — The first case of West Nile virus in Utah in 2020 has been reported by health department officials.
“Ute Indian Tribe Mosquito Abatement confirmed the first West Nile virus positive pool in the Uintah Basin,” said a Facebook post from the TriCounty Health Department Monday afternoon. “The positive sample came from a water body in the Thunder Ridge area.”
A mosquito pool is a group of mosquitoes caught and tested from a single trap.
Keep the following in mind to reduce the risk of contracting West Nile virus:
- Mosquitoes carrying the virus bite between dusk and dawn.
- Wear long sleeves, long pants and use EPA-registered DEET mosquito repellent.
- Always follow instructions before applying DEET to children, do not use DEET repellent on children under 2 years old — instead dress children in clothing that covers arms and legs.
- Cover strollers with mosquito nets.
- Reapply insect repellent as directed.
- If using sunscreen and repellent, apply sunscreen first, repellent second.
- Permethrin-treated clothes provide protection after multiple washings; do not use permethrin (an insecticide that repels and kills mosquitoes) directly on skin.
“If a person is infected by West Nile virus, the risk of serious disease is low,” said a previous statement from the Utah Department of Health. “Most of those affected will have a mild to severe flu-like illness with muscle aches, fever, rash, and headache that usually lasts a few days but can last months.”
In rare cases, those infected may get meningitis or encephalitis, the statement said. Those at greatest risk of serious disease are those with weakened immune systems, diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease.
The elderly are at greatest risk for severe complications. The overall death rate
is about one for every thousand infected individuals.
There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus infection other than to treat symptoms, officials said.
Anyone who thinks they have West Nile virus symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.
