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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

West Nile confirmed in two men

Associated Press

BOISE – The first human cases of West Nile virus have been confirmed in two Southern Idaho men, health officials said Thursday.

Both men were recovering without hospitalization, Central District Health Department officials said.

One man was from Elmore County and the other was from Gooding County, said Dieuwke Spencer, an epidemiologist for the Central District Health Department. Both men were in their 50s, and both received multiple mosquito bites for an extended time before their illness.

Oregon officials also reported their state’s first human case of West Nile on Thursday. Bonnie Widerburg, communications officer for the state Department of Human Services, said the patient has recovered. Widerburg said she did not know the patient’s name, age, or gender.

She also didn’t know when the patient got sick or got better. She said that information could be released today.

The Oregon case is in Malheur County, which borders Nevada and Idaho.

The Idaho men suffered symptoms including severe muscle aches, joint pain, sweating and fatigue, Spencer said.

West Nile virus, which is spread by infected mosquitos, had already been detected in Idaho this year in horses, a crow, a magpie and an alpaca.

“Fortunately mosquito season is coming to an end soon, but until it does, people need to take precautions to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites,” said Spencer.

Most people infected with West Nile have no symptoms or experience only a mild, flu-like illness, Spencer said, but the virus can be dangerous and even deadly for the elderly or those with compromised immune systems.

“In recent weeks, West Nile virus has shown up in birds and other animals in a broad area of Idaho,” said Christine Hahn, state epidemiologist for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

“Based on the experience of other states, we anticipated the spread of the virus to people, which is why we have been advising people to fight the bite of mosquitoes.”

To reduce the chance of being bitten by mosquitoes, health officials recommend people use insect repellent containing DEET, and wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants to reduce skin exposure. They also urge people to remove standing water, which attracts mosquitoes.

This season, 39 states have reported about 1,200 human cases of West Nile, including 30 deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.