Utah health officials confirm 3 human cases of West Nile Virus

Utah health officials confirm 3 human cases of West Nile Virus

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SALT LAKE CITY — Health officials say three people in Salt Lake County have been infected with the West Nile Virus in the first human cases in Utah this year.

All three people were diagnosed around Sept. 1. All three are expected to recover, said Salt Lake County Health Department spokesman Nicholas Rupp.

"The fact that we have identified human cases of West Nile Virus should be a good reminder that that continues even after Labor Day, even though we consider summer over," Rupp said. "We still need to be vigilant in protecting ourselves from mosquito bites until that first frost."

In the past few years, Utah has seen as many as two cases of human West Nile Virus each year.


The fact that we have identified human cases of West Nile Virus should be a good reminder ... We still need to be vigilant in protecting ourselves from mosquito bites until that first frost.

–Nicholas Rupp, Salt Lake County Health Dept.


Last year, Utah had two cases of human West Nile Virus. The last time someone in Salt Lake City died from West Nile Virus was in 2007.

Rupp said it's typical for human West Nile Virus cases to show up in late summer or early fall, toward the end of the virus season.

The virus is spread to people through the bite of infected mosquitos. It is not transmitted person-to-person.

Rupp said workers will continue efforts to control the mosquito population with pesticide spraying. "We have potentially four to five weeks still to go," he said.

Health officials are asking people to continue taking precautions against mosquito exposure. That includes wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors from dusk to dawn, using mosquito repellent with DEET and regularly removing standing water in yards.


Daphne Chen is a reporter for the Deseret News and KSL.com. Contact her at dchen@deseretnews.com.

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