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Sam Penrod ReportingAn irritating part of summer carries a sickening bite to Utah. Five people have now officially been infected with West Nile. The virus has turned up in 36 states so far this summer. Utah joins 16 other states with human infections.
The sixth case was reported just this afternoon in Davis County. It joins five cases in Utah County; three of those patients are very sick and doctors fear their cases could be deadly.
Utah Lake may be a factor in why Utah County has more West Nile cases, because the lake attracts more mosquitoes and birds that carry the disease. And with new cases showing up almost daily now, health officials are sounding the warning again about West Nile Virus.
Mosquitoes may be just an irritating pest we all have to deal with in the summer, but these days in Utah, more and more mosquitoes are carrying the West Nile Virus. If you become infected, a little mosquito bite can make you very sick and even kill you.
Dr. Joseph Miner, Executive Director, Utah County Health Department: "Eighty-percent of individual infections have no symptoms at all, they never know they've been infected. Twenty-percent will have some fever."
Only one out of every 150 people infected by West Nile Virus will actually get seriously sick. Doctors say it's important to get treatment right away if you develop symptoms.
Dr. Joseph Miner, Executive Director, Utah County Health Department: "Unusually severe headache, stiff neck, sometimes mental confusion, poor coordination, any type of neurological symptoms associated with with fever."
Typically, those most at risk are those who are senior citizens; but in Utah County, three of the cases involve people in the 19 to 39 year old age group.
Dr. Joseph Miner, Executive Director, Utah County Health Department: "A lot of young adults feel like they are not at risk of the serious complications, but three of the five have had neuro-invasive disease. This is encephalitis, meningitis, symptoms which are potentially fatal."
Last year in Utah, most of the 52 West Nile cases were diagnosed in August and September, meaning now is the time to be extra careful. While the risk of West Nile for most people is relatively low, health experts say this is a case where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Avoid being outside from dusk to dawn, and if you are, make sure you are wearing long clothing. Also, it's best to use insect repellents containing DEET. They're simple steps that can prevent the worries of West Nile Virus.
High temperatures increase the risk of being infected with the West Nile Virus. That's why the Center for Disease Control says the country's recent heat wave could lead to a worse than usual season for the virus. So far this year, 33 states have reported cases of West Nile.
