Human case of West Nile virus reported in Grand County

Human case of West Nile virus reported in Grand County

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MOAB — Another human case of West Nile virus has been reported in Utah.

Southeast Utah Health Department officials announced Wednesday that an adult living in Grand County has been diagnosed with the disease.

The agency did not release any other details about the person infected but said they were not infected with the neuroinvasive form of the disease, which is a more severe form of West Nile virus.

Moab, in Grand County, was the first Utah city to detect the presence of the virus in mosquitos this year.

Wednesday's case is the latest in a series of human cases of West Nile virus reported across the state this week.

The first human case in the state was confirmed Monday morning in Salt Lake County. Another case was reported later the same day in Washington County, health officials said.

Tuesday, the TriCounty Health Department in Vernal announced a human case was detected in the Uintah Basin in eastern Utah.

The virus has also been detected this year in mosquito pools in Box Elder, Sevier, Weber and Davis counties. No human cases have yet been reported in those areas.

A "mosquito pool" refers to a group of mosquitos caught and tested from a single trap, according to health officials.

Health officials say people ages 60 and older are at greatest risk for the disease. Adults are advised to use an EPA-registered insect repellent with DEET. Follow instructions before children use a DEET repellent, the TriCounty Health Department recommends.

Most people who contract the disease do not exhibit symptoms, but symptoms can include fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, vision loss, paralysis and coma, according to the TriCounty Health Department.

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