Teton County, WY victim diagnosed with West Nile Virus
Wyoming has diagnosed a second person to have West Nile Virus this week.
The Wyoming Department of Health said Friday a Teton County, Wyoming resident was diagnosed with the virus. The first ever human case for Teton County, they said.
A Crook County resident was diagnosed earlier this week.
Emily Thorpe, Surveillance Epidemiologist at Department of Health, said the patient from Teton County was not in the county in the weeks leading up to the illness and likely, not exposed locally.
She also said 76 mosquito samples tested to date by the Teton County Weed & Pest District have proven negative for West Nile Virus.
Thorpe said nonetheless, it is important to remember that although mosquito populations may be declining, the likelihood of contacting an infected mosquito increases as the season progresses due to the increasing age (and resultant exposure) of the extant individuals.
Teton County residents can assist in surveillance efforts by reporting dead/diseased birds or localized adult mosquito populations to Teton County Weed and Pest District at (307)733-1896.
Anyone experiencing fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, eye pain or a skin rash on the trunk should report these symptoms to their healthcare provider and may be eligible for testing provided free of charge by the WDH Lab. For more information on West Nile virus in WY see www.badskeeter.org or http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm nationally.
