It’s Time To Watch And Protect Yourself From West Nile Virus

It's spring and while other parts of the country and world are concerned about mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus health officials in Yakima County say we need to be concerned about mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus. Sheryl Dipietro with the Yakima Health District says when outside protect yourself from mosquito bites and do things around your home to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs. "If you have bird baths change the water several times a week. Do not keep things around your property that collect water."
Because she says that's where mosquitoes can lay eggs on standing water. She says it's a fact that mosquitoes in the area carry the virus that can be deadly. In 2015 two horses and one person were diagnosed with West Nile virus in Yakima County. 14 cases and one death was reported in Benton County.
Dipietro says most people who become infected will have no symptoms. About one in five will develop fever and other symptoms including headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. A few people (less than 1%) will develop a disease such as Encephalitis, Meningitis, or Acute Flaccid paralysis