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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- West Nile virus has infected more Utahns this year than last and health officials are urging residents to take precautions over the Labor Day weekend.
So far this year, Utah has seen ten human infections. Six of them in Duchesne (Due-Shane) and Uintah counties and four of them in Utah county. Four of the ten people infected had severe symptoms of the disease.
The virus has been detected in mosquitoes, birds or horses in 12 Utah counties, including Weber, Davis and Salt Lake counties.
Preventing mosquito bites is the best way to avoid the virus. Repellents containing DEET, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants or avoiding the outdoors from dusk to dawn are recommended.
Residents also should remove standing water from around their homes to get rid of potential mosquito habitat.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
