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Jed Boal ReportingIt's time to fight the bite and take West Nile Virus seriously on the Wasatch Front. That's the advice from a Layton mother. An infected mosquito bit her five-year-old in Spanish Fork or Layton.
The Wasatch Front is one of the last areas in the US to see human case of West Nile. But wetland areas, like a stretch of the Jordan River, now carry a greater risk and it's a good idea to be prepared.
Ashton Wall is almost back to full strength after West Nile Virus knocked him off his feet and sent him to the hospital a couple of weeks ago. He doesn't remember a lot of mosquito bites, but he remembers the IV's at the hospital.
Ashton Wall, West Nile Virus Victim: “They had to stick a lot of pokeys in my, and the pokeys hurt."
Ashton got sick quickly; he threw up, ran a fever, and got a strange rash on his stomach.
Jessica Wall, Ashton's Mother: “Normally with the flu he's still active. When he's sick he's got symptoms, but he doesn't act that way. He slept for 13 hours straight and I had to wake him up to go to the doctor."
At first doctors suspected appendicitis, even constipation. He was hospitalized and a spinal tap revealed meningitis. Ashton was home before they found out it was West Nile Virus.
Jessica Wall says she rarely bothered with mosquito repellant with DEET. “When he actually says West Nile, I was like, ‘great, We've got mosquitoes in Davis County or Utah County. So I start calling everybody I know and say start DEETing your kids."
An infected mosquito bit Ashton at home in Layton or at his grandparents' home in Spanish Fork. Duchesne mosquitoes have tested positive for the virus
Brian Hatch, Davis County Epidemiologist: “West Nile is in Utah. We need to act appropriately and take those preventative measures."
80 percent of those who get West Nile will not even know it. 20 percent will get West Nile Fever, a smaller percentage will have meningitis or encephalitis
