The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
46°F
Current Conditions
Few clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

North Idaho due for West Nile

By JoNel Aleccia jonela@spokesman.com

West Nile virus in Idaho has been linked to a dozen deaths and 760 infections, nearly all in the southern and central part of the state, figures released Tuesday showed.

State health experts have no clear explanation for why the outbreak has avoided the Inland Northwest so far. They say, however, that the outbreak seems to follow the pattern of the disease as it has moved across the United States and that infection in North Idaho, Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon is inevitable next season.

“I think the virus is still moving and next year is your year,” Dr. Christine Hahn, Idaho state epidemiologist, said Tuesday.

The virus may have contributed to the recent deaths of two Idaho residents in their 70s, a Gem County man and a Bingham County woman. That brings to 12 the deaths attributed to the virus this season. All of the resident victims have been older than 60.

Infection has been confirmed in one Kootenai County man, but he likely contracted the disease while traveling in southern Utah, health officials said.

A Pierce County man remains the only confirmed case of West Nile virus in Washington, state health officials said Tuesday.

First reported in New York in 1999, West Nile has moved rapidly across the United States, typically infecting birds and horses before being detected in humans.

Idaho’s outbreak this year is a marked increase over the 13 human infections confirmed in 2005.

Colder nights will end this year’s season soon, health officials said.

“We think we may have escaped this,” said Cynthia Taggart, spokeswoman for the Panhandle Health District.

Next year, however, likely will be a different story.

Residents are urged to take precautions against the illness, including protecting themselves against insect bites and reducing standing water on their properties.

Most people infected with West Nile will not get sick. About one in five people will develop mild symptoms such as fever, headache and body aches. About one in 150 people will develop more severe, even life-threatening, symptoms.