Agriculture officials say more than 500 mosquito pools have been found to carry West Nile virus this year, the “highest number of positive mosquito pools ever seen in Utah.” (Shutterstock)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah officials say at least six people and more than a dozen animals in the state have tested positive for West Nile virus this year, while statewide declining teams report ‘a record number of mosquito pools possessing the virus.
The latest Utah Department of Health report, updated during the week ending Aug. 28, indicates that 506 of the more than 5,000 mosquito pools analyzed this year have returned with mosquitoes that contain the virus.
More than half (281 in total) of the pools have been located in Davis County, while another 192 mosquito pools have been found in Salt Lake County.
The virus has also been reported in mosquito pools in Box Elder, Cache, Summit, Tooele and Weber counties. Utah Department of Agriculture and Food officials added Tuesday in an update to the West Nile virus that it is “the highest number of positive mosquito pools ever seen in Utah.”
The six confirmed human cases of the virus reported in Utah so far have passed to Davis and Salt Lake counties, according to the state health department. The six individuals who tested positive are shown to be over 40 years of age and four of the cases are “neuroinvasive”. None of this year’s cases are listed as fatal.
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food officials said Tuesday they have confirmed the virus in nine horses and seven birds. Seven of the horses that tested positive for West Nile virus were in Weber County, while one horse in Box Elder County and another in Salt Lake County also tested positive.
The virus is most often transmitted by mosquito bites. The disease can cause serious illness or even death in humans and other mammals such as horses.
Most people do not notice any symptoms, while other humans may feel flu-like or worse symptoms, according to the state health department.
Signs of West Nile virus in horses include loss of appetite, depression, fever, and neurological signs such as tripping, laps, and weakness, according to state agricultural officials. Considering the record number of mosquito pools carrying the virus, Dr. Dean Taylor, the Utah state veterinarian, urged horse owners to vaccinate their horses against the threat of the West Nile virus. .
“Vaccines against West Nile virus and other neurological diseases are available at your veterinarian,” he said in a statement. “All homeowners should discuss vaccinations with their veterinarian in the spring before the mosquito season.”
West Nile virus is not just a problem in Utah. The state health department report noted that 96 human cases of the virus have been reported in 23 more states this year. They have caused six deaths.
There are ways to prevent people from becoming infected. The health department recommends the following:
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and outdoor socks.
- Use insect repellents with 20% to 30% DEET. Repellent is not recommended for children under 2 months.
- Reschedule outdoor activities to avoid the maximum time for mosquitoes, which range from dusk to dawn.
- Remove any puddles of water or stagnant water that may be present in pet dishes, pots, buckets, tarpaulins, tires, or swimming pools. This is because mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water.
- Report stagnant water masses in your local mosquito reduction district.
- Make sure all doors, windows and screens are in good condition and fit well so that mosquitoes cannot fly inside a house.
You can find more tips and information about the virus here.