The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

OLYMPIA/YAKIMA—The first two cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in Washington this year have been reported by the Yakima County Health District and Benton-Franklin Health District. The Yakima County resident, a man in his 50’s, was hospitalized due to the infection. The Benton County resident, a man in his 60’s, was not hospitalized.

WNV can be a serious, even fatal illness. It can affect people, horses, birds, and other animals. WNV is almost always spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected after feeding on birds that carry the virus. There is no evidence that WNV spreads through direct contact with infected people or animals. The majority of people infected with WNV do not get sick. About one in five will develop a fever or other symptoms that go away without medical treatment. Even fewer, approximately one in 150 people infected will have more severe symptoms.

Severe symptoms may include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis, and coma. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right away.

Health officials advise people to take action to avoid mosquito bites:

• Use an effective, EPA-registered insect repellent listed at https://tinyurl.com/y3kmj9dz.

• Cover up: Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors.

• Avoid the prime time for mosquito activity. Many mosquitoes bite in the evening between dusk and dawn. Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing during evening and morning hours.

• Mosquito-proof your home by installing or repairing screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside.

• Reduce mosquito-breeding areas around your home by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires, and birdbaths regularly.

“Spending time outdoors can help with social distancing to prevent COVID-19, but it can also put you at risk for mosquito-borne disease,” said epidemiologist Hanna Oltean. “People throughout Washington should take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.”

WNV has been detected this summer in mosquitoes found in Yakima, Benton, and Franklin counties. Historically, counties across Washington have been affected, although the risk is generally highest in Eastern Washington. WNV season starts as early as July and can last until early October.

The DOH website, https://www.doh.wa.gov, is your source for a healthy dose of information. Find us on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/WADeptHealth/, and Twitter, https://twitter.com/wadepthealth. Sign up for the DOH blog, Public Health Connection, at https://medium.com/wadepthealth.