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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A 74-year-old grandmother became the fifth Utah resident to die this year from West Nile virus.
Arla Heaton of Murray was infected by a mosquito a month ago while tending her garden before dawn, family members said. She died Sunday.
"I'm completely lost. I've never been alone," said her husband, Glen Heaton.
The state has reported 145 West Nile cases so far this year. There have been deaths in Utah, Salt Lake, Carbon and Weber counties. There was one death in 2005.
Heaton's death was unexpected so late in the season, said Darrin Sluga, a spokesman with the Salt Lake Valley Health Department.
"It's tragic that something like that has to happen when, hopefully, you have the information to prevent it," he said.
West Nile is primarily a bird disease that spreads to humans when a mosquito bites an infected bird, becomes infected itself and then bites people.
Most people infected with West Nile will not have any symptoms, but those who do become ill may develop a fever, headache and rash that lasts a few days. Older people are at risk for more severe symptoms or even death.
Heaton was a cancer survivor and an executive assistant for Ireco Chemical and Utah Power & Light Mining, family members said.
"If we would've known what the symptoms were, it could have taken a different course," said her daughter, Janine Leyer.
Experts recommend people use mosquito repellent with DEET and wear long sleeves and long pants outdoors, especially from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
Nationally, 2,720 cases of human West Nile virus were reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this year, as of Sept. 26, including 87 deaths. Officials consider that an undercount, because there is often a delay in diagnosing cases and in transferring reports from states to the CDC.
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Information from The Salt Lake Tribune: http://www.sltrib.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
