Teton County Resident Contracts West Nile Virus

Wyoming has diagnosed a second person to have West Nile Virus last week – this time, a resident of Teton County  This marks the first ever human case of West Nile Virus involving a Teton County resident.  However, Kim Deti of the state Department of  Health quickly adds that the adult male from Teton County was not in the county in the weeks leading up to the illness.  As such, she says it appears he was exposed to the disease in another area — not in Jackson or the surrounding area.  She says it has not been a particular concern previously in Teton County, but the Department suggests residents take precautions none-the-less.  Department of Health Surveillance Epidemiologist Emily Thorpe adds that 76 mosquito samples tested to date by the Teton County Weed & Pest District have proven negative for West Nile Virus.  Still, she says it is important to remember even though mosquito populations may be declining, the likelihood of contacting an infected mosquito increases as the season progresses due to the increasing age of the remaining insects since they will have had more of a chance to become carriers of the virus. Teton County residents are urged to assist in monitoring the area for infection by reporting dead/diseased birds or localized adult mosquito populations to Teton County Weed and Pest District at 733-1896.