DRAPER — The city of Draper reported on Thursday that mosquitoes in the city tested positive for West Nile virus.
The city recommended everyone in the region should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, saying mosquitos can travel for several miles. It said there is no way to tell which mosquitos are infected, and people should continue taking steps to prevent bites until the first hard freeze of the year.
Mosquitos with the virus were located near the Jordan River and south of 12300 South.
Some steps to prevent mosquito bites, from the Salt Lake County Health Department, include using a repellant registered with the EPA that includes DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or lemon eucalyptus oil; wearing long sleeves and pants after dusk; draining standing water; cleaning ponds and clearing roof gutters.
Draper's announcement comes on the heels of an announcement from the county health department on July 22 that West Nile virus was detected in multiple mosquito pools — or traps — in downtown Salt Lake City and in the Sugar House neighborhood. The county said it expects to find the virus in other areas in the coming weeks.
The Utah health department reported on July 26, its most recent report, that there have been no positive cases of West Nile virus in humans, horses or birds this year — but there have been 30 mosquito pools that tested positive throughout the state.
This is 0.65% of the pools tested.
Of those 30, nine have been in Utah County, eight in Cache County, six in Uintah County, five in Salt Lake County, and one in both Box Elder County and Davis County. The first identification was on July 3 in Utah County in the Lake Shore area.
Mary Hill, the Salt Lake County Health Department's epidemiology bureau manager, said, "There will be a growing number of mosquitoes carrying the disease, so it is now especially important that Utahns protect themselves from mosquito bites, particularly in the hours from dusk to dawn."
The county's statement said it can cause mild illness, where people do not even know they are infected or feel some flu-like symptoms, but less than 1% of people infected will develop a neuroinvasive form of the disease which can cause death or long-term complications.
Symptoms appear between two and 14 days of a mosquito bite, and include fever, headache and body aches. Those with more severe disease could also experience neck stiffness, disorientation, convulsions, tremors or comas. The only medical aid for West Nile virus is to treat the symptoms, but the county health department encouraged anyone who thinks they are infected to contact a doctor.
Although anyone can become ill following a bite from an infected mosquito, the Salt Lake County Health Department said those over 50 or with weakened immune systems are most likely to get sick.
Last year, Utah health officials confirmed 14 cases of West Nile virus in humans, according to Salt Lake County, 12 of which were the neuroinvasive form of the disease, but there were no deaths. The last death from West Nile virus in Utah was in 2023.
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