The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is reporting the first human West Nile virus (WNV) case of the year in a Campbell County adult.
“Wyoming residents should take steps to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites,” said Clay Van Houten, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit manager with WDH. Mosquitos spread West Nile virus (WNV) when they feed on infected birds and then bite people, animals or other birds.
“In past years, we typically haven’t seen cases reported until late in July or August,” Van Houten said. “We don’t think this early case necessarily means we’re in for a tough season, but we want people to know they should protect themselves.”
In 2018, WDH was notified of four WNV cases in Wyoming, including one death in Goshen County. Since the disease first reached Wyoming in 2002, the number of reported human cases has varied widely from year to year. “We expect many people who are ill due to WNV are not getting tested, which makes it difficult to know the true number of cases,” Van Houten said.
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