The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services announced Thursday that four human cases — three in Dawson County and one in Garfield — have been identified, along with an equine case in Petroleum County.
In addition, mosquitoes in Lake, Prairie, Phillips and Valley counties have tested positive for the virus, DPHHS said.
West Nile is a mosquito-transmitted virus that causes a low-grade fever, headache and muscle ache in about one in five people infected, with the rest seeing no symptoms and developing an immunity. In rare cases, life-threatening symptoms can develop, including rash, fever, stiffness and mental confusion.
The health agency recommended removing mosquito breeding areas in and around the home, including draining bird baths, wading pools and other containers of water every few days, along with wearing pants and long-sleeved shirts whenever possible.
Mid-to-late summer is the most common time for West Nile transmission and the severity of the season can't be predicted, said Christine Mulgrew, DPHHS West Nile virus program manager.
"But we can protect ourselves from mosquito bites and eliminate breeding sites around your home," she said.
The number of human cases of the virus varies each year in Montana, but DPHHS said the average is about 10 confirmed cases annually. In 2003 and 2007, there were more than 200 confirmed cases.
DPHHS recommends following what it calls the Four D's of West Nile Virus to reduce the chance of getting infected. The are:
Dusk/dawn: Limit outdoor activities during dusk and dawn, which are peak mosquito bite hours.
Dress: Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when possible and reduce the amount of exposed skin.
DEET: Use repellent that contains the chemical DEET on exposed skin to help prevent bites.
Drain: Regularly empty containers of standing water to eliminate breeding areas.
Source :http://billingsgazette.com/
TAGS: West Nile Virus Dphhs Virus Mosquito zika baby
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